Live in Vilnius cover

Live in Vilnius

Released

Saxophonist David S. Ware’s monumental quartet — with pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist William Parker, and a string of drummers — was one of the most astonishing live forces in jazz during the 1990s and 2000s. This double LP documents a performance in Lithuania from 2007, with Guillermo E. Brown behind the kit. The set includes pieces from his two major-label releases, Go See The World and Surrendered, a new improvisation called “Lithuanian Whirl,” and a nearly half-hour version of Sun Ra’s “The Stargazers.” Ware’s absolute mastery of the tenor saxophone is on display throughout; he creates guttural, dinosaur-like roars as easily as he leaps into the horn’s uppermost register for extended, squealing harmonic exercises, and the band musters behind him like a tidal wave that rises and rises without ever crashing to shore.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Fanfare for the Warriors cover

Fanfare for the Warriors

Art Ensemble of Chicago
Heirloom cover

Heirloom

Lisa Ullén
Stars Have Shapes cover

Stars Have Shapes

Exploding Star Orchestra, Nicole Mitchell, Rob Mazurek
Omega cover

Omega

Immanuel Wilkins
Salvation cover

Salvation

Funeral Mist
Anthony Braxton cover

Anthony Braxton

Anthony Braxton
Three Crowns cover

Three Crowns

Maciej Obara
The 5th Power cover

The 5th Power

Lester Bowie
Good Days cover

Good Days

Chicago Underground Quartet