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David Binney: Graylen Epicenter

By Ian Patterson
June 13, 2011
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Undoubtedly one of the great alto saxophonists, David Binney's reputation as an original, exciting composer has also grown steadily since his debut recording, Point Game (Owl Records, 1989). Binney is so prolific a musician that it's sometimes hard to stay abreast of his current projects. However, there is little chance of Graylen Epicenter going unnoticed. With this recording Binney raises the bar, playing sublimely and drawing outstanding performances from an A-list of New York collaborators, clearly inspired by the leader's epic compositional terrain.

Intensity and grace dovetail throughout; on "All of Time," a beautiful motif morphs into a two-minute saxophone and vocal ostinato—courtesy of

Gretchen Parlato

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Gretchen Parlato—over which drummers

Brian Blade

drums
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Blade and

Dan Weiss

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Dan Weiss engage in charged, yet wonderfully sympathetic dialogue. Pianist

Craig Taborn

piano
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Craig Taborn's right-handed solo builds hypnotically, only to have Binney's searing feature nip in and up the ante. Binney's affecting vocals carry the melody, which returns briefly, ceding to a crashing conclusion.

The equally epic title track awakens slowly from Binney and trumpeter

Ambrose Akinmusire

trumpet
b.1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Ambrose Akinmusire's harmonizing, while guitarist

Wayne Krantz

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Krantz's craggy, soulful blues leads the tune up an enticing path before the saxophonist and trumpeter create a very different space, carving little eddies around one another in a meditative passage. Percussionists

Kenny Wollesen

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Wollesen and

Rogerio Boccato

percussion
b.1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Rogerio Boccato add subtle accents, and Parlato's vocal lifts the quietly grand melody. Binney then unfolds a powerfully escalating solo over Taborn's beautifully weighted chords. Throughout Graylen Epicenter the leader and pianist create chemistry evocative of pianist

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans and saxophonist

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane.

There's tremendous breadth of imagination in these performances; a blowing-session freedom colors "Equality at Low Levels," which has a jagged, Scottish-sounding motif. Binney and Taborn trade exhilaratingly over Blade's

Billy Cobham

drums
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Cobham-esque press rolls and cracking cymbals. Even on the slower "Everglow," Binney's singing lines have a smoldering intensity. Bassist

Eivind Opsvik

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Eivind Opsvik's presence is quietly commanding throughout, slowly carving a deep, arco intro on the lovely "From This Far," which features a haunting Parlato, accompanied by Krantz's crystal-clear acoustic guitar. A driving bass ostinato over irresistible drumming launches "Terrorists and Movie Stars;" the two drummers' spark igniting the piece as Binney and tenor saxophonist

Chris Potter

saxophone, tenor
b.1971

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Potter go toe-to-toe in exciting fashion.

Intensity is the unifying thread on this CD. The dramatic (and nicely titled) "Any Year's Costume" makes the case that every song should have two drummers of this caliber. However Binney's secret weapon is Parlato, her sensual, wordless vocal on "Home" provides an obvious album highlight, but her overall contribution is to lay a slightly ethereal veil over the music. She fuses playfully with the horns, notably on "Same Stare, Different Thought," a complex choral miniature where she harmonizes impressively with trumpet and saxophone. Saxophonist

Wayne Shorter

saxophone
1933 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Wayne Shorter has likened Gretchen's craft to that of

Frank Sinatra

vocals
1915 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Sinatra, and her horn-like articulation is suffused with emotion, bringing another edge, to the music.

Graylen Epicenter works a wicked charm, and stands as Binney's finest recording to date, a modern classic.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

All of Time; Graylen Epicenter; Equality at Low Levels; Everglow; From This Far; Terrorists and Movie Stars; Same Stare, Different Thought; Home; Any Years Costume; Waking to Waves.

Personnel

David Binney

saxophone, alto

David Binney: alto and soprano saxophones, vocal; Gretchen Parlato: vocal; Ambrose Akinmusire: trumpet; Chris Potter: tenor saxophone; Craig Taborn: piano; Wayne Krantz: guitar; Eivind Opsvik: bass; Brian Blade: drums (1-4, 6, 8-10); Dan Weiss: drums (1, 5, 6, 9, 10); Kenny Wollesen: percussion, vibes; Rogerio Boccato: percussion; Nina Geiger: vocal harmony (10).

Album information

Title: Graylen Epicenter | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Mythology Records

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