Jazz / Modern Creative, Progressive Jazz
Angel Perez Conga
Anton Fier Drums
Arto Lindsay Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
Bern Nix Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
Bill Laswell Bass (Electric)
Billy Bang Violin
Byard Lancaster Sax (Tenor), Flute, Flute (Wood)
Carla Bley Voices, Piano
Carlos Mestre Conga
Carlos Ward Sax (Alto)
Cecil McBee Bass
Chico Freeman Clarinet, Sax (Tenor)
Daniel Ponce Conga, Iya, Percussion, Chekere
David Liebman Sax (Soprano)
Dom Um Romão Percussion, Agogo
Emilsam Velazquez Mixing
Fred Frith Guitar (Electric), Guitar
Gene Golden Conga, Percussion, Chekere
George Cartwright Sax (Alto), Piccolo, Flute
George Naha Guitar
Ignacio Berroa Drums
Jack Adelman Mastering Engineer
Jamaaladeen Tacuma Bass (Electric)
Jerry Gonzalez Chekere, Conga, Quinto
Jerry Gonzalez & the Fort Apache Band Conga, Percussion
John Clark French Horn
John Stubblefield Sax (Tenor)
Jon Fausty Mixing, Engineer
Kevin Zambrana Engineer
Kip Hanrahan Synthesizer Strings, Synthesizer, Voices, Quinto, Percussion, Producer
Lisa Herman Voices
Michael Mantler Trumpet, Engineer
Nicky Marrero Percussion, Okonkolo, Bongos
Piro Rodriguez Mixing
Robert Polidori Photography
Scott Marcus Executive Producer
Teo Macero Sax (Tenor)
Tom Mark Engineer
Victor Lewis Drums
Fittingly enough, the first sound heard on Kip Hanrahan's premier release is that of the conga and the first word sung is "sex," two leitmotifs that would appear consistently in his ensuing work. Coup de Tete burst on the scene in the early '80s as an entirely fresh, invigorating amalgam of Cuban percussion (much of it Santeria-based), free jazz, funk, and intimate, confrontational lyrics. Hanrahan had worked at New Music Distribution Service, a project run by Carla Bley and Michael Mantler (both of whom appear on this album), and had established contacts with numerous musicians from varied fields who he threw together in a glorious New York City melting pot. With the percussion and electric bass laying down thick and delicious grooves, the cream of the younger avant saxophonists in New York at the time wail over the top, accompanying some of the most brutally uncomfortable lyrics ever put to wax. The relationships Hanrahan details are turbulent to say the least, often intertwined with economic concerns as well as a general sense of the impossibility of understanding one's mate. After asking him for abuse and being refused, his lover (sung wonderfully by Lisa Herman) taunts, "When you could only sulk/I had more contempt for you than I ever thought I could have." Interspersed among the bitter love harangues and ecstatic percussion-driven numbers are two stunningly lovely pieces, Marguerite Duras' "India Song" and Teo Macero's "Heart on My Sleeve," both aching with romanticism. Coup de Tete is a superb record, an impressive debut, and, arguably, one of the finest moments in Hanrahan's career along with the following release, Desire Develops an Edge. Highly recommended. ~ Brian Olewnick, All Music Guide
Kip Hanrahan
Active Decades: '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: 1954 in The Bronx, New York, NY
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Modern Creative, World Fusion, Fusion, Progressive Jazz
He leads the band, and doesn't really play, but Kip Hanrahan is an incredible organizer of all-star progressive bands and a forward thinker. The founder of the American Clave label, Hanrahan has released Tenderness, Exotica, Darn It!, Anthology, All Roads Are Made of the Flesh and Desire Develops an Edge. His style is a blend of Latin rhythms and avant-garde. His band has included Jack Bruce, Don Pullen, Leo Nocentelli, Robbie Ameen and Alfredo Triff.
---Michael G. Nastos & John Bush, All Music Guide |
