sonnymax Posted January 11, 2010 Report Posted January 11, 2010 A search of the board failed to reveal any mention of the debut by 31-year-old altoist Darius Jones on the AUM Fidelity label. Admittedly, the artwork accompanying this recording is horrendous (that kind of urban art doesn't speak to this middle-aged white guy from Newport). The music, however, is a different story. I'm not as good as others here at describing a musician's style, but to my ears there's sweetness to his balladry, a swagger in his mid-tempo excursions, and an Ayler-esque cry to his most passionate expressions of self. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have two incredibly talented veterans to spur you on, namely Cooper-Moore on piano and the "diddley-bo", and Rakalam Bob Moses on the drums. There's a "hidden" bonus at the end of the CD, a live track featuring Jones with Adam Lane and Jason Nazary. As good as it is, I would have left this selection off, because it's more mainstream sound doesn't really fit with the rest of the album. Check out the audio clips at emusic or amazon and let me know what you think. I told ya it was ugly. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted January 11, 2010 Report Posted January 11, 2010 The BBC broadcast his set from this year's Vision Festival, which I really enjoyed...I would certainly be interested to check out the album! Quote
relyles Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 (edited) I heard a few private live recordings with Jones that motivated me to purchase the album. I have not had a chance to listen to it yet - but I actually dig the art work (but the again I am a 43 year black guy from NYC ). Edited January 12, 2010 by relyles Quote
clifford_thornton Posted January 12, 2010 Report Posted January 12, 2010 I have no qualms about the artwork, either, and find that it fits the multiple emotional perspectives that the music is coming from. The trio with Lane belonged on a different record. Quote
JSngry Posted January 8, 2013 Report Posted January 8, 2013 Getting to this one now and liking it a good bit. A lot of the "new" jazz today doesn't really grab me because a lot of it seems kinda "been there done that" to me personally, and this guy could fall into that vibe. But his energy strikes me the right way (whatever that means), there's a deep enough personal voice that the vocabulary gets shaded into the personal, and that's all I'm looking for really. That and some skills, which he's also got. Not at all bothered by the cover either. It just looks like a isolated portion of an old Pedro Bell Funkadelic cover or something. Can't get enough Pedro Bell! Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 9, 2013 Report Posted January 9, 2013 Darius is a great player (he did a concert with my group about 2 years ago); he's around NYC a bit, though hard to track consistently. Quote
JSngry Posted January 9, 2013 Report Posted January 9, 2013 What I really liked about his playing was that nothing sounded careless in terms of pitch and fingers. I've really, really come to dislike bluffing in that regard, and it's really easy to bluff in that regard on saxophone, especially on alto. And sometimes strength of identity gets it over, for a little while, anyway. But this guy, everything I heard sounded fully intentional. AND it had identity. Win-win afaic. Quote
relyles Posted January 9, 2013 Report Posted January 9, 2013 His two subsequent recordings (with artwork by the same artist) are also quite good. I had the opportunity to hear the quartet with Matt Mitchell, Sean Conly and Ches Smith last May at Firehouse 12 in New Haven. One of my favorite live performances of the year. I am a fan! Quote
Stefan Wood Posted January 9, 2013 Report Posted January 9, 2013 I have his AUM CDs and they are very good. Quote
.:.impossible Posted January 10, 2013 Report Posted January 10, 2013 Back when he lived in Richmond, he was in a trio with my brother called CUD. Scott Clark was the drummer. I remember hearing them at Tropical Soul one night, amazed that the room was completely packed to hear a free jazz trio. It was an odd venue for this type of music, but people were all in. Folks from all walks of life! Quote
Rabshakeh Posted March 30, 2021 Report Posted March 30, 2021 Does anyone know what has happened to Jones? It seems like he hasn't recorded since 2015. Wikipedia tells me nothing. Quote
mjazzg Posted March 30, 2021 Report Posted March 30, 2021 (edited) He's still playing, I received a notification of a live stream recently. @Steve Reynolds may know more as I remember him being a fan. Sorry if I have that wrong Steve. Edited March 30, 2021 by mjazzg Quote
Rabshakeh Posted March 30, 2021 Report Posted March 30, 2021 1 hour ago, mjazzg said: He's still playing, I received a notification of a live stream recently. @Steve Reynolds may know more as I remember him being a fan. Sorry if I have that wrong Steve. Thanks. That's reassuring, although it seems like a strange recording drought for someone whose career looked like it was going places. Quote
relyles Posted March 30, 2021 Report Posted March 30, 2021 (edited) He has been fairly active over the years. I have grown into a big fan over the years and have had the pleasure of hearing him live at least five times, including once when I brought him to Hartford for a show. Love his group Shades of Black with Sam Newsome, Cooper-Moore on organ and Chad Taylor on drums. It is kind of a Sun Ra meets Larry Young organ quartet. I had a conversation one of the last times I saw him about the lack of recent recordings. I got the sense that he just had not been ready to record anything yet and he was working some musical things out. Anyway, I believe he has a recording on Giant Step Arts that will be coming out hopefully some time this year. Edited March 30, 2021 by relyles Quote
mjazzg Posted March 30, 2021 Report Posted March 30, 2021 That description of Shades Of Black intrigues. Presumably that's one of the unrecorded projects? Quote
Steve Reynolds Posted March 30, 2021 Report Posted March 30, 2021 3 minutes ago, mjazzg said: That description of Shades Of Black intrigues. Presumably that's one of the unrecorded projects? Saw them at the Old Stone and they were marvelous Quote
Rabshakeh Posted March 30, 2021 Report Posted March 30, 2021 1 hour ago, mjazzg said: Presumably that's one of the unrecorded projects? I was going to ask the same. Again, the internet doesn't help at all. Quote
relyles Posted March 30, 2021 Report Posted March 30, 2021 Shades of Black has not been recorded to my knowledge. I have heard them live 4- 5 times, including the Stone performance Steve mentioned. I believe the yet to be released recording on Giant Step Arts is a trio. Quote
danasgoodstuff Posted March 31, 2021 Report Posted March 31, 2021 Put me in the dig his playing, hate the covers camp. His sound reminds me of Arthur Blythe, only fatter but still keeping an edge. The library had a few but I need to go buy some. Quote
Rabshakeh Posted March 31, 2021 Report Posted March 31, 2021 10 hours ago, danasgoodstuff said:  His sound reminds me of Arthur Blythe, only fatter but still keeping an edge.  Definitely. I always liked the covers. A unique look. Quote
mjazzg Posted March 31, 2021 Report Posted March 31, 2021 Anyone listened to 'The Oversoul Manual' written for voices only. I was quite taken by it initially but haven't returned to it. Count me as a fan of the cover artwork on his albums too Quote
mjazzg Posted March 31, 2021 Report Posted March 31, 2021 36 minutes ago, mjazzg said: Anyone listened to 'The Oversoul Manual' written for voices only. I was quite taken by it initially but haven't returned to it. Count me as a fan of the cover artwork on his albums too Listening to 'Oversoul...' now. It's certainly an interesting departure and holds my attention, intriguing. Quote
danasgoodstuff Posted April 1, 2021 Report Posted April 1, 2021 12 hours ago, Rabshakeh said: Definitely. I always liked the covers. A unique look. They are distinctive, so you can see them from across the room and guess what they are even if you can't read them. Quote
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