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Archie Shepp: The New York Contemporary Five

By John Barron
July 8, 2010
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Archie Shepp: The New York Contemporary Five

Although saxophonist Archie Shepp is listed as the leader of this release, The New York Contemporary Five was really a collective; a short-lived, free jazz super-group from the early 1960s. The band, with a front line of Shepp, cornetist

Don Cherry

trumpet
1936 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Cherry and alto saxophonist

John Tchicai

saxophone
1936 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">John Tchicai, was recorded live at the famed Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 15, 1963. Originally released as a two-volume set on the Sonet label, volume one of that set is reissued here for the first time on CD in the U.S. by Chicago's Delmark Records.

Cherry's "Cisum" opens the disc with a bold fanfare, as if to declare the arrival of a bold musical endeavor, intent on championing new sounds, heavily influenced by

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman, Thelonius Monk,

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

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

Cecil Taylor

piano
1929 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor. The subsequent solos by each of the horn men explore open-ended blowing, anchored by the hard-hitting pulse of drummer

J.C. Moses

drums
b.1936

" data-original-title="" title="">J.C. Moses and bassist Don Moore. A brief reading of the melody to Monk's "Crepuscule With Nellie" leads into two compositions by Coleman, from whose quartet Cherry had recently departed: "O.C.," has a swinging, angular line and a whirling solo from Shepp who blends guttural groans, blues moans and frenetic flurries into a cohesive intensity; "When Will the Blues Leave" is given a rather straight-ahead rendering in comparison to the other tracks on the disc. Here, Cherry plays it cool, with a 1950s

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis vibe—Shepp and Tchicai even use Davis' "Walkin'" as a background riff. With the tempo slightly accelerated by tune's end, Moses delivers an inspiring drum solo.

A conversational atmosphere between Moses and Cherry sets up Shepp's "The Funeral," followed by bursts of ensemble interplay and a meaty bass solo by Moore. The final track, Tchicai's swinging "Mik," allows the Danish-born saxophonist an extended, bop-inspired solo spot. The late

Bill Dixon

trumpet
1925 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Dixon arranged this tune, as well as much of the music on the disc. Dixon was a behind-the-scenes sixth member of the group, whose writing contributed to its overall sound.

Having stood the test of time, this historically important—but shamefully underappreciated—live recording of The New York Contemporary Five sounds fresh and far-reaching almost fifty years later.

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Track Listing

Cisum; Crepuscule With Nellie; O.C.; When Will the Blues Leave; The Funeral; Mik.

Personnel

Archie Shepp

saxophone, tenor

Don Cherry: cornet; John Tchicai: alto saxophone; Archie Shepp: tenor saxophone; Don Moore: bass; J.C. Moses: drums.

Album information

Title: The New York Contemporary Five | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Delmark Records

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