New York Art Quartet

The '60s were a very productive time for Roswell Rudd -- not only because of the trombonist's work as a sideman in tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp's group and his collaboration with soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy in the School Days quartet (a group devoted to playing Thelonious Monk's music exclusively), but also because of his contributions to the New York Art Quartet. Although short-lived, this avant-garde unit recorded three albums before breaking up -- and this self-titled debut recording of 1964, which ESP-Disk reissued on CD in early 2008, has a reputation for being the most essential of the three. That reputation is well deserved; the chemistry that Rudd enjoys with alto saxophonist John Tchicai, bassist Lewis Worrell, and drummer/percussionist Milford Graves is strong throughout the session, and the sparks fly on Rudd's compositions as well as Tchicai's "No. 6." Poet Amiri Baraka, aka LeRoi Jones, is featured on the spoken word offering "Black Dada Nihilismus," but everything else on this free jazz date is instrumental. ESP-Disk's reissue of the New York Art Quartet's debut is not ideal; the liner notes, which are only about a paragraph long, should have been much more comprehensive. But the reissue has many more pluses than minuses. The performances are exciting, the art work and packaging are attractive, and Douglas McGregor's digital remastering is a definite plus. If one is exploring the New York Art Quartet for the first time, this 43-minute CD would be the obvious starting point. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide