James Spaulding - Down With It

[king ubu]

brownie sent me this mighty fine disc a while ago, released on Terrones' Marge label in 2006.

As I'm spinning it again right now, I thought I'd point it out here:

Personnel: James Spaulding - Alto Sax, Flute; Pierre Christophe - piano; Raphaël Dever - bass; Mourad Benhammou - drums

Recorded Live July 22nd 2006 at the Sunside in Paris.

The group sounds like a working band to my ears, very sympathetic, very creative. Good choice of tunes and some truly fine playing by Spaulding... but let someone who's better with words do the talking:

from a bagatellen review posted by clifford on May 7, 2007 3:06 PM - full review here

Spaulding is ebullient and heel-digging, funky and cascading in his opening salvo on “I Mean You,” Christophe’s trio providing a steamroller of support and his solo expanding on the saxophonist’s jagged flurries in a statement of tradition and freedom. Christophe has likely spent ear-time with Mal Waldron, Jaki Byard, Sonny Clark and Dave Burrell, and his place in a Spaulding-led outfit is obviously an inspiration. “Soul Station” has more than a shake of “Glass Enclosure” in its thoroughfares, the theme a delicate and crepuscular tension embodied in a rare show of breathiness from Spaulding’s alto in concert with Christophe’s poised right hand. The pianist’s solo is arpeggiated, but with a host of Monky elbows. Interestingly, rather than holding the tune’s coiled energy, the group uses it as a springboard for firey improvisations. The title track is given a respectfully Bud-like treatment, before Christophe is at a Waldron-y run through its myriad changes. Spaulding’s alto is beyond bar lines, spiraling upward and decidedly outward as the foursome push into very free territory, Dever and Benhammou having to make a quick definition of the term “pliant.” “In a Sentimental Mood” is a showcase for Spaulding’s flute, as well as Dever’s woody melodicism, a rare moment of idyll in a set of hard-driving jazz.

[king ubu]

Here's Spaulding's homepage:

http://www.speetones.com/intro.html

[relyles]

I purchased this one around the time that it was released and agree that it is a fine recording. I was also impressed by Pierre Christophe, who I have also heard favorably with the Dutch saxophonist Benjamin Herman.

[clifford_thornton]

Yeah, this is a fine, fine one that I haven't dug out in quite some time. In addition to sending me a review copy, he signed and sent one to my dad. Super sweet guy.

Also some love for the pair of discs he issued on his Speetones label...

[king ubu]

I only have one of his HighNotes, in addition to this fine Marge release. The HighNote seems much more... contained/mainstream/cool by comparison, and in the end compared to this one with Christophe, the American gang on the HighNote smells like routine. But I'll have to dig it up now, maybe I'm wrong...

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

what do you guy think of the james spauling on Pacific Jazz- larry 'wild' wrice, etc// is this kind of a la Curtis Amy/Paul Bryant, or is it very diff.

[king ubu]

Don't know that one, sorry!

[clifford_thornton]

what do you guy think of the james spauling on Pacific Jazz- larry 'wild' wrice, etc// is this kind of a la Curtis Amy/Paul Bryant, or is it very diff.

Details, please. To my knowledge, Spaulding did not record for Pacific Jazz.