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  • Steve Swell Presents: Rivers of Sound Ensemble - News From The Mystic Oracle

    MW797

    Artist: Steve Swell

    Label: NotTwo Records

    Featuring Steve Swell on trombone, Roy Campbell on trumpet & flugelhorn, Sabir Mateen on tenor & alto sax, flute & clarinet, Hill Greene on bass and Klaus Kugel on drums. This disc dedicated to the great Sam Rivers after WKCR had a marathon for him in May of 2007 and played some 177 hours of Rivers' music. For the past decade ace trombonist and composer, Steve Swell, has has 2 or 3 discs released each year as a leader. Each has been a reason to rejoice as each one is great in different ways with a handful of different groups. This band was originally called Slammin' the Infinite with Matt Heyner on bass and now is called the Rivers of Sound Ensemble with Hilliard Greene taking Matt's place. This righteous disc consists of three long tracks and was well-recorded in a studio in February of 2007. "Journey to Omphalos" begins with the band playing calmly, the opening theme is most haunting. The ever-incredible Sabir Mateen
    takes the first powerful solo on tenor sax with that extraordinary rhythm team swirling powerfully around him. Both Hill's acoustic bass and Klaus' drums are amazing, tight and truly spirited. As Sabir's solo reaches for the stars, Steve's trombone and Roy's trumpet spin around him marvelously. Next it is Steve's turn to take an explosive solo and that he does ever so well. When Roy steps up the plate next, the rhythm team sails back down to the earth while Roy slowly builds the excitement back up to new levels. Hill also takes a fine solo and I dig the wa...