Bennie Maupin - Penumbra

[GA Russell]

Here's what Doug Ramsey has to say about Penumbra in his rifftides blog today:

Bennie Maupin was on the New York jazz scene as a saxophonist and bass clarinetist in New York in the 1960s and '70s, most famously as a member of Miles Davis's Bitches Brew cast and of Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi group. He worked off and on with Hancock for twenty years. In Penumbra (Cryptogramophone), he nods briefly toward those jazz fusion days, but the loveliest music on the CD is in the Castor and Pollux interrelationship of Maupin on bass clarinet and bassist Darek Oles. The highlight is "Message to Prez," which builds langorously into a colloquy of low-register counterpoint and, finally, perfectly intoned unison on the dance-like melody.

[Jim Alfredson]

I haven't had time to dig into this very deeply, but I will say one thing: It aint' driving music.

I need to find time to actually sit down and "listen" to it, which is tough for me these days.

[king ubu]

Just gave this a first spin - lovely recording! Great sound and lots of very good bass clarinet playing. As has been mentioned before Darek Oles plays a rather important role on the album. He's a mighty fine bass player!

[mikeweil]

PS - What did Maupin record with McCoy Tyner?

Tender Moments (BN)

Together (Milestone)

[Guy Berger]

This one and Early Reflections are both incredibly good albums.  Wish Benny would record more.

[soulpope]

On 10/12/2008 at 5:38 PM, king ubu said:

 As has been mentioned before Darek Oles plays a rather important role on the album. He's a mighty fine bass player!

Another (belated) thumbs up for Darek "Oles" Oleszkiewicz   ....

[Guy Berger]

On 3/20/2024 at 9:46 PM, Guy Berger said:

This one and Early Reflections are both incredibly good albums.  Wish Benny would record more.

what’s it going to take for a record label to make another Bennie Maupin album?  These two were excellent - the guy has a track record!!!!