Vade Mecum cover

Vade Mecum

Released

Trumpeter Bill Dixon took his instrument as far into the realm of pure sound as anyone ever has. Using electronics and reverb and his own formidable technique, he emitted hisses and squeals and low growls that ignored traditional melody but somehow wound up almost impossibly beautiful. This 1993 album and its sequel feature two bassists, William Parker and Barry Guy, and drummer Tony Oxley scraping, droning and rattling around and behind Dixon as he squiggles and hums, seemingly to himself. Completely unstructured, it displays a remarkable beauty and cohesion nonetheless.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Les Stances à Sophie cover

Les Stances à Sophie

Art Ensemble of Chicago
The Truth cover

The Truth

Pat Thomas, Matana Roberts
Mutima cover

Mutima

Cecil McBee
Live at Sweet Basil, Vol. 1 cover

Live at Sweet Basil, Vol. 1

David Murray Big Band
Hero Trio cover

Hero Trio

Rudresh Mahanthappa
Disrespectful cover

Disrespectful

Tim Lefebvre, JZ Replacement
In for a Penny, In for a Pound cover

In for a Penny, In for a Pound

Henry Threadgill Zooid
The Swiftest Traveler (Live) cover

The Swiftest Traveler (Live)

Barry Guy, Torben Snekkestad, Agustí Fernandez
Spiral Mercury cover

Spiral Mercury

Chicago/São Paulo Underground, Pharoah Sanders
Go See The World cover

Go See The World

David S. Ware