Which Way Is East
Which Way is East | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 30, 2004 | |||
Recorded | January 2001 | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 150:49 | |||
Label | ECM | |||
Producer | Charles Lloyd, Dorothy Darr | |||
Charles Lloyd chronology | ||||
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Which Way is East is a double CD album of duets by jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd and percussionist Billy Higgins recorded in January 2001 and released in 2004 on the ECM label.[1] The album contains the last recordings by Higgins before he died in May 2001.
Reception[]
In his "Jazz Consumer Guide" for The Village Voice, Tom Hull summarized the album as "two old friends converse, contemplate, fart around".[2] In another commentary published on his website, he said of the recording: "Similar types of things have been done elsewhere – Bill Cole and Kali Fasteau are two who regularly work along these lines, but their records feel more like work; this one feels more like play, and its homespun nature puts it over the top."[3]
The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4½ stars stating "there is crackling energy, humor, warmth, and a complete commitment to expressing what may indeed be beyond real expression. Not since John Coltrane and Rashied Ali's Interstellar Space — though they sound nothing alike — has there been a duet recording of such unfettered communication. Highly recommended".[4] The All About Jazz review by John Kelman stated "While Higgins' passing, at the relatively youthful age of sixty-five, was tragic, we should feel fortunate that Lloyd had the foresight to bring him to his home in January 2001, for this series of impromptu, intimate and ultimately revealing duets".[5] Other professional reviews for the same website were also highly favourable with Mark F. Turner stating "the music is a wondrous journey on many levels. Fervently recommended"[6] Mark Corroto stated "The last recording by Higgins is worth savoring".[7]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tom Hull | A–[3] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Track listing[]
- All compositions by Charles Lloyd except as indicated
- "What Is Man: The Forest" (Higgins, Lloyd) - 3:34
- "What Is Man: Being and Becoming" - 4:45
- "What Is Man: Civilization" - 4:35
- "What Is Man: Sea of Tranquility" - 2:43
- "Divans: Prayer, Sanctuary" - 4:12
- "Divans: Supreme Love Dance" - 3:36
- "Divans: A Wild and Holy Band" - 3:53
- "Salaam: Oh, Karim" (Higgins) - 2:30
- "Salaam: Akhi" - 5:59
- "Salaam: Ya, Karim" (Higgins) - 5:54
- "Salaam: Tagi" - 4:15
- "All This Is That: Hanuman's Dance" - 13:06
- "All This Is That: Sky Valley" - 5:59
- "All This Is That: Blues Tinge" (Higgins) - 5:02
- "All This Is That: Atman Alone Abides" - 2:56
- "Desire: Wild Orchids Bloom" - 6:42
- "Desire: Advaita" - 3:35
- "Desire: Chomolungma" - 12:57
- "Devotion: Sally Sunflower Whitecloud" - 3:06
- "Devotion: My Lord, My Lord" (Higgins, Lloyd) - 6:11
- "Devotion: Windy Mountain" - 5:36
- "Devotion: Through Fields and Underground" - 3:48
- "Light of Love: Mi Corazon" - 3:24
- "Light of Love: Beloved, Chimes at Midnight" (Higgins, Lloyd) - 5:18
- "Light of Love: Take a Chance" (Higgins) - 4:04
- "Surrender: Perfume of the Desert" - 4:31
- "Surrender: Benares" - 2:21
- "Surrender: Amor" (Higgins) - 4:25
- "Surrender: Forever Dance" (Higgins, Lloyd) - 1:53
- "Surrender: Bis" (Higgins) - 3:44
- Recorded in January 2001
Personnel[]
- Charles Lloyd - tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, bass flute, alto flute, C flute, piano, , Tibetan oboe, percussion, maracas, voice
- Billy Higgins - drums, percussion, guitar, guimbri, Syrian one string, various Senegalese and Guinean hand drums, Indian hand drum, Juno's wood box, voice
- Manfred Eicher - executive producer
References[]
- ^ ECM Records catalogue accessed March 11, 2010.
- ^ Hull, Tom (July 1, 2004). "Jazz Consumer Guide (1): All True, More or Less". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 22, 2020 – via tomhull.com.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Hull, Tom (May 23, 2004). "May 2004 Notebook". Tom Hull - On the Web. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Jurek, T. Allmusic Review accessed March 11, 2010.
- ^ Kelman, J. Which Way is East review All About Jazz, April 10, 2004
- ^ Turner, M. F. Which Way is East review All About Jazz, April 12, 2004
- ^ Corroto, M. Which Way is East review All About Jazz, June 6, 2004
- ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 902. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
- 2004 albums
- ECM Records albums
- Charles Lloyd (jazz musician) albums
- Billy Higgins albums