New Life

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New Life album cover
Album Information

Total Tracks: 4   Total Length: 39:49

eMusic Features

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Muhal Richard Abrams Updates the Big Band

By Kevin Whitehead, eMusic Contributor

Muhal Richard Abrams is likely best known as a driving force behind the hugely influential Chicago co-op the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), but he's also an underappreciated composer. Not unknown by any means — he won Denmark's first Jazzpar Prize in 1990, before the international jury got around to David Murray, Lee Konitz, Tommy Flanagan and Roy Haynes. But Abrams 'orchestra rarely got the attention it deserved in its '80s and… more »

They Say All Music Guide

The David Murray Octet (which at the time consisted of the leader on tenor and bass clarinet, trumpeters Baikida Carroll and Hugh Ragin, trombonist Craig Harris, altoist John Purcell, pianist Steve Colson, bassist Wilbur Morris and drummer Ralph Peterson) stretches out on four of its leader’s originals. The tunes (“Train Whistle,” “Morning Song,” “New Life” and “Blues in the Pocket”) are each fairly memorable — the themes are strong than usual — and as usual, the Octet features the right combination of adventurous solos and colorful writing. Recommended. – Scott Yanow