Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » David Murray: Seriana Promethea

David Murray: Seriana Promethea

By John Sharpe
October 9, 2022
View read count

It's over 45 years since

David Murray

saxophone, tenor
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">David Murray blew into the Lower East Side lofts from California. For a while he was near ubiquitous and amassed a discography to match. While releases have become less prolific in the decades since, he remains restlessly active, and Seriana Promethea by his Brave New World Trio ranks alongside his best. With a saxophone style strung between the twin poles of the New Thing of

Albert Ayler

saxophone, tenor
1936 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Ayler and the earlier practices of

Coleman Hawkins

saxophone, tenor
1904 - 1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Coleman Hawkins and

Ben Webster

saxophone, tenor
1909 - 1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Webster, it is the latter which has exerted the greater pull over time.

The eight cuts, seven by Murray and one cover, comprise material honed on tour and subsequently captured in the studio in November 2021. Each is based around accessible song form, handled with aplomb by bassist

Brad Jones

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Brad Jones and drummer

Hamid Drake

drums
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Hamid Drake, who furnish a rock solid bottom end and a buoyant swing which allows the leader to go as far out as he wishes, but packs enough sass to grip tight when needed.

While there's nothing revelatory about Murray's playing, he is supremely accomplished, full of nuance, and a consummate exponent of the ballad. Hinting at his seminal experiences in the lofts, he colors his contemporary mainstream discourse with adroitly co-opted extremes and a preternatural command of the upper register. With his extraordinarily deep woody tone Jones proves a fount of melodic variation without missing a beat, both in counterpoint and when stepping forward. He can hold down the riffs with the best, but it's what he interpolates between which grabs the attention. Murray has always shown an affinity for strong drummers, as albums with the likes of

Sunny Murray

drums
1937 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Sunny Murray,

Rashied Ali

drums
1935 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Rashied Ali,

Andrew Cyrille

drums
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Cyrille,

Steve McCall

drums
b.1933

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve McCalland

Elvin Jones

drums
1927 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Elvin Jones attest, so his ten years and counting association with Drake comes as no surprise.

Murray wields his bass clarinet for the only time on the jaunty grooving title cut, establishing a percolating vamp in consort with Jones before spinning out ever expanding runs punctuated by the occasional excited yelp. Each of the tracks stays true to the parameters of the tunes, but Murray often stretches the boundaries, perhaps posing himself challenges in doing so. One such comes on the standout, "Rainbows For Julia," with its aching yet celebratory feel, where after setting out the theme he elaborates on it by running his notes together using a tremolo effect which he takes further and further into the weeds, while keeping the original refrain just about discernible. The overall impact is remarkable.

Murray similarly infuses the tradition with the avant saxophone lexicon to confound expectations elsewhere as well, whether with a legato which flows like lava over the rocky outcrops on "Necktar" or the spicing of his elongated lines with peppery exclamations on the upbeat "Switchin' In The Kitchen." "Anita Et Annita" convinces as tender double portrait, while Murray imbues Sly And The Family Stone's "If You Want Me To Stay" with an almost religious fervor. Classic jazz, but what sets it apart is that it is done so well with absolute conviction.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Seriana Promethea; Necktar; Metouka Sheli (Ballad For Adrienne); Rainbows For Julia; Switchin' In The Kitchen; Anita Et Annita; If You Want Me To Stay; Am Gone Get Some.

Personnel

David Murray

saxophone, tenor

Brad Jones

bass

Hamid Drake

drums

Additional Instrumentation

David Murray: bass clarinet, tenor saxophone

Album information

Title: Seriana Promethea | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Intakt Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Alex Skolnick Trio, Mark Lettieri, J...
< Previous

Betty Carter, Horace Parlan, Shirley...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.