SOUNDDANCE

Old Locks and Irregular Verbs (CD) Henry Threadgill - With his recent Pulitzer prize for composition still hot in his pocket, Threadgill comes up with another album with his compositions, a tribute to his longtime friend and colleague, musical pioneer Lawrence D. "Butch" Morris. Threadgill doesn't play a note here, but his presence is felt in the way that Ensemble Double Up, a band with two pianos (Jason Moran and David Virelles), two alto saxophones (Roman Filliu and Curtis McDonald), cello (Christopher Hoffman), tuba 8Jose Davila), and drums (Craig Weinrib), coalesces and comes apart. Despite the fact it doesn't contain a single note of his own searing saxophone playing, Old Locks and Irregular Verbs remains pure Threadgill and a highlight in career stocked with more than a few classics.

2018 release. Double Up, Plays Double Up Plus is Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Henry Threadgill's highly anticipated follow-up to Old Locks and Irregular Verbs, which was voted the best jazz album of 2016 in the NPR and Jazz Times Critics Polls. Like on that release, which NPR called "a masterpiece," this album also features Ensemble Double Up, this time with the remarkable inclusion of three concert grand pianos, in addition to saxophones, flute, cello, tuba, and drums. Alive with the multi-layered counterpoint, and odd-angled swing that is Threadgill's hallmark, the work is rich with intricate detail and grand gestures.

INNER SPECTRUM OF VARIABLES

POUTING GRIMACE

MISE EN ABIME

MOVING STILL