HENRY THREADGILL — Henry Threadgill & Make A Move ‎: Everybodys Mouth's A Book (review)

HENRY THREADGILL — Henry Threadgill & Make A Move ‎: Everybodys Mouth's A Book album cover

Album · 2001 · Avant-Garde Jazz

5/5 · 2011-02-01
Matt

Released in 2001 being the first on the brand new label PI Recordings "Everybodys Mouths a Book" and not to be content with just that Henry Threadgill released on the same date "Up Popped Two Lips " with the band Zooid. "Lets Make a Move though is Henry's band for this project with "Bryan Carrot" on vibraphone, marimba, "Brandon Ross", electric and acoustic guitar, " Stomu Takeishi", electric and acoustic bass guitar, "Denis Prieto, trap drums and " Henry Threadgill". alto sax and flute. All compositions are written and arranged by Henry with some wonderful results in Avante Garde Jazz. This is an album with atmosphere which is fairly low to mid key in the avante manner but does not noodle or drag along anywhere. The tunes all have a great structure in their own avante way, real melody and with the use of the vibraphone and marimba we seem to get that sound the pervades Avante Garde Jazz after Eric Dolphy's " Out to Lunch" but not at the same tempo and of course this is Henry's work with a distinct mark that he leaves on your impressions with music. Original is an understatement for this collective of compositions with the sound of the flute or alto sax,the addition of guitar, the drumming of Dafnis Prieto and Stomu Takeishi's bass. Always in the right place at the right time are the musicians in the band "Lets Make a Move" with some interesting and stunning results for contempary Jazz.

The sound of a symbol with vibraphone played slowly with space and Henry's flute all combined make for the start of "Platinum Inside Straight". Brandon Ross plays one slow acoustic guitar picked solo that only enforces the feel of the tune with some beautifully played light flute from Henry within his contribution and solo. One really does feel that you are somewhere strange with sound of the music.Tempo increases with " Don't Turn Around" and Henry is playing alto saxophone with the drums and bass driving it along but it is the vibraphone giving the song that feel with even a quick solo from Bryan Carrott but the alto of Henry's is screeching with his solo and a great electric guitar from Brandon with those jagged notes he plays." Biggest Crumb" and that slow tempo is back but with a more hard sound for Biggest Crumb. Henry is on alto but Brandon solo's first on electric guitar with every chord screeching in pain as though it was dragged from his guitar and Henry finishes up with his alto. Flute is back again from Henry for "Burnt Till Recognition" and the time is mid for the tune with some wonderful contributions from the band who not only keep rythmn but provide fills and keep that avante atmosphere right at the fore. More agonised guitar from Brandon with his electric on "Where Coconuts Fall" and Henry is on alto saxophone for this one. The 2nd last composition for the album is " Shake it Off with a fast tempo and Henry stretching right out with his solo on flute. "What to Do, What to Do" is the final installment with Henry on alto and perhaps the best of his performances with the band on the album. He just builds the solo beautifully.

Without doubt one of the most interesting albums for me in Jazz in the last ten years with some great compositions, beautiful ensemble and solo playing from the respective musicians. "Everybodys Mouths a Book" is on its own for originality and Henry Threadgill has done it again