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  • Free Within The Law

    MW792

    Artist: The Cosmosamatics

    Label: NotTwo Records

    This is the 8th disc by the great Cosmosamatics and this version of the band features Sonny Simmons on alto sax & English horn, Michael Marcus on tenor sax & Bb clarinet, Peter Herbert on contrabass and Art Lewis on drums. 'Free Within the Law' features seven pieces, written by either co-leader, Sonny Simmons or Michael Marcus. It was recorded both in the studio and live in Krakow, Poland in October of 2006. Each disc by the Cosmosamatics has featured a different rhythm section and each one has been great in similar/different ways. One of the things that makes this one special is the appearance of Peter Herbert, one of the under-recognized contrabassists who makes consistently superb solo, duo and bass ensemble discs. The first thing we hear on this disc is an eruption of bowed bass and powerful drums. When the two saxes come in, we enter free/jazz heaven with an explosion of wailing spirits. The next piece is Sonny's "Afro Funk" and it couldn't be more different. It does have a sly somewhat funky groove with a great blend of English horn (oboe-like) and clarinet. Both reed players take great, laid back solos together and apart. The vibe is a sort of middle-eastern one. "Janet's Moods" features some strong yet bent harmonies for the reeds and poignant solos for the alto sax and tenor sax with Peter strumming his bass sublimely behind them. You can tell that Sonny and Michael have been playing, touring and recording, for quite a while since there is a special magic that bon...

  • Zetrons

    MW764

    Artist: The Cosmosamatics

    Label: NotTwo Records

    Against all odds and likely thanks to the good taste of European jazz fans (these live tracks are taken from performances in Krakow, Amsterdam and Vienna), veteran altoist Sonny Simmons and reedist Michael Marcus have managed to keep the Cosmosamatics together as a working band for the past five years, Zetrons being their seventh CD release. The leaders have never been more in sync and the quartet has never been funkier or tighter. “12 Seasons of Love” is a lush ballad and Simmons’ tenderness manages to be surpassed by Marcus, whose tone on tenor seems to have deepened in recent years. On “Crossroads Out”, the pair weaves in between each other, Marcus’ clarinet and Simmons’ English horn swirling and circling Masa Kamaguchi’s bassline and Jay Rosen’s drums. “Mingus Mangus” is an orchestrated lament that contrasts sorrow and joy as Simmons slows to a blues and Marcus takes over with effusive swing. (Jeff Stockton, AllAboutJazz.com)

  • Reeds & Birds

    MW757

    Artist: The Cosmosamatics

    Label: NotTwo Records

    "The Cosmosamatics is an all-star group with legendary altoist / English horn player Sonny Simmons and multi-reed specialist Michael Marcus holding down the front line.The group was founded by Sonny Simmons in 2000. Their years of cooperation and mutual appreciation lead to the "Cosmosamatics" concept you can hear now. The Cosmosamatics tours & performances include their tribute to the music of Charlie Parker and Eric Dolphy, along with their original compositions - music for the 21st century!! The bass chair has included: William Parker, Curtis Lundy, Dominic Duval, Chris Sullivan, Tarus Mateen, Gildas Scourarnec, and Masa Kamaguchi. On drums, most regularly, Jay Rosen has kept the groove, but also Andrew Cyrille, Reggie Nicholson, Larry Hancock, & Art Lewis have worked with the Cosmosamatics. The Cosmosamatics are one of the most compelling groups on today's jazz scene" (AllAboutJazz)