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| 5.726 Ft
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| 1. | Intro
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| 2. | Mean Ameen
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| 3. | The Messenger
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| 4. | Goin' Downtown Blues
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| 5. | Toucouleur
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| 6. | The Brood
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| 7. | Lookin' for Ninny
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Jazz / Post-Bop, Avant-Garde Jazz
Ernest Dawkins - Sax (Tenor), Sax (Alto)
Bill Cosby - Author
Darius Savage - Bass
Eric Butkus Mastering, Engineer, Mixing
Isaiah Spencer Drums
Maurice Brown Trumpet
Richard Pryor Author
Rick Nelson Author
Robert G. Koester Producer, Supervisor
Sterling A. Brown Author
Steve Berry Trombone
Steve Wagner Producer, Mastering, Supervisor, Engineer, Mixing
Tom Terrell Liner Notes
AACM saxophonist/composer/bandleader Ernest Dawkins brought his NHE into the Velvet Lounge on July 14, 2005 for this live DVD/CD knowing it would be one of the groups' last performances at the historic "old" Velvet Lounge. The club is now closed (the last night was April 1, 2006) though the new location is supposed to be open soon. Trumpeter Maurice Brown has been gaining much critical acclaim and popularity in the last two years. His return to Chicago from New Orleans for this gig is a wonderful addition to Steve Berry, trombone; Darius Savage, bass and Isaiah Spencer, drums.
Ernest Dawkins is in his element during concert or club performances, and has a stance within the post-bop and free bop continuum that speaks of his heritage coming through the ranks in Chicago. Blues, hard swing, and sounds from the black church and Africa all merge into a unified whole that is infectious, head-nodding, and smile-inducing. Leading his New Horizons quintet, Dawkins (alternately on alto and tenor saxophone) has the roaring heart of a lion and storytelling soul of a griot in this instrumental context. Trumpeter Maurice Brown and trombonist Steve Berry are young enough to be fearless and talented enough to provide perfect front-line foils for Dawkins, while bassist Darius Savage and drummer Isaiah Spencer are also exuberant up-and-comers who add plenty of aptitude and energy to the proceedings. Live at Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge, Dawkins and his crew present six lengthy pieces that allow not only for the meatiest of solos, but also include some tight charts that revolve around the true heritage jazz pretexts proliferated by the AACM, sharpened by current updated popping rhythms. A wheezing harmonica and percussion intro leads to "Mean Ameen," dedicated to the mentor of Dawkins, guitarist/trumpeter Ameen Muhammad. A modal two-note bass groove sets the pace for the tart harmonic sound of the horns and hip counterpoint that makes the AACM's Great Black Music identifier great. The swinging blues shuffle title track and straight 12-bar "Goin' Downtown Blues" emphasize the Windy City's past, present, and future in soulful, purposefully off-key and vocal spoken word jive dues-paying preaching. Crisp, sharp staccato brass notes in a fast bop mode set up a fulsome Dawkins on "Toucouleur." While the perfectly titled "The Brood" presents a basic introspective mezzo-forte free float, "Lookin' for Ninny" is well formed with its groove bop, simple sleek lines, and reference to their favored "long tall and skinny" girl. Dawkins is a clearly skilled, smart, and forthright musician. His solos are full of substance, crackling with just enough sizzle and depth without pure histrionics. The band picks up on this vibe 100 percent, and plays accordingly. A valuable document of the current Chi-town scene, and very much relevant to the rest of the world, The Messenger deserves attention from the entire universe of jazz listeners. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
Ernest Dawkins
Active Decades: '90s and '00s
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Avant-Garde, Post-Bop, Avant-Garde Jazz
As the leader of New Horizons Ensemble, Ernest Dawkins has performed music ranging from free bop to free form, occasionally displaying its links to the past while definitely looking ahead. Dawkins remembered hearing Anthony Braxton (a neighbor) practice as a youth. He originally played bass and then drums before settling on the saxophone in 1973. He attended the AACM school and studied music at the Vandercook College of Music and with the AACM "elders" (including Joseph Jarman and Chico Freeman). After playing with local ensembles (including the AACM Big Band, Ed Wilkerson's Shadow Vignettes big band, and Douglas Ewart's Clarinet Choir), in 1979 Dawkins formed New Horizons Ensemble which eventually grew into a pianoless sextet. His adventurous group (consisting in 1994 of Dawkins, trombonist Steve Berry, trumpeter Ameen Muhammad, guitarist Jeffery Parker, bassist Yosef Ben Israel, and drummer Reggie Nicholson) has performed regularly in Chicago, at festivals, and in Europe, in addition to making three recordings for the Silkheart label.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
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