A Cloud of Black Birds

by Joe Morris, Joe Morris Quartet

Overview

Violinist Mat Maneri, bassist Chris Lightcap, and drummer Jerome Deupree join the adventurous Joe Morris on these seven tracks. The music is intense and challenging, but it has a certain airiness -- unlike when, say, Matthew Shipp and William Parker are in the picture. The Maneri-Morris combo makes for arresting contrasts in string timbre, particularly on their one duet, "Renascent," where Morris manages to sound almost like a tabla drum. "Threshold" and "Radiant Flux" have coherent melodies and feature the rhythm section at their best, grooving in a fractured yet propulsive way. Morris makes yet more timbral discoveries on the title track, over a mid-tempo swing feel. As for the "cloud of black birds" in question, it's part of a difficult childhood memory that Morris shares eloquently in his liner notes. ~ David R. Adler

Product Details

Release Date:	12/08/1998
Label:	Aum Fidelity
UPC:	0642623300923
Rank:	151491

Tracks

1. Threshold
2. Mesmeric
3. A Cloud of Black Birds
4. Emblem
5. Renascent
6. Radiant Flux
7. Take Place

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Joe Morris Quartet   Primary Artist
Mat Maneri   Primary Artist,Violin
Joe Morris   Primary Artist,Guitar
Jerry Deupree   Drums
Chris Lightcap   Bass

Technical Credits

Steven Joerg   Producer
Joe Morris   Producer,Composer
Mat Maneri   Performer
Chris Flam   Mastering
Anne Marcotty   Design
Peter Kontrimas   Engineer