Threadgill/Air on Novus coming from Mosaic

[bigtiny]

Just got this in the email:



Henry Threadgill: The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air
(Release Date: Early 2010)

Henry Threadgill was among the first wave of distinctive and utterly original artists to emerge from Chicago's Association for The Advancement of Creative Music along with Muhal Richard Abrams, Anthony Braxton and the member of the Art Ensemble Of Chicago.

As a saxophonist, he delivers his unique style with a big, dry sound and precise articulation. As a composer, he was an American original, influenced by the entire spectrum of music. He creates distinctive sonic canvasses for a variety of ensemble. And his work is infused with a wonderfully dry, almost absurdist sense of humor.

This set covers three important eras in Threadgill's career, beginning with the three albums that Air made in 1978-79 for Arista Novus including the celebrated "Air Lore" with unique reinterpretations of the music of Scott Joplin and Jelly Roll Morton. Air was a remarkable co-operative trio formed by Threadgill, bassist Fred Hopkins and drummer Steve McCall in 1975.

In 1979, Threadgill made his first album as a leader for Arista Novus. "X-75. Volume 1" featured the unique ensemble of four reeds, four basses and the voice of Amina Claudine Myers. A volume 2 was made and never issued. It is released for the first time in this set.

In 1986, Henry formed his Sextett, which consisted of seven musicians! This unique ensemble consisted of trumpet, trombone, cello, bass and two sets of drums as well as Threadgill. Over the next two years, the group recorded three albums, all for RCA Novus and all included here.

Threadgill closed out the century with three albums on Columbia ("Carry The Day," "Makin' A Move" and "Where's Your Cup") recorded between 1994 and '96 with varying ensembles of unusual instrumentation.

This set cover three distinct and fertile peak periods in Threadgill's long and ever creative career.

[Vince Kargatis]

Very cool. Annoying for me in that I own most but not all of it, so purchase would be a questionable and expensive decision. Still, great to see sets like this come out of Mosaic.

Otoh, label realities notwithstanding, grouping all the Sextett recordings on About Time and Novus, and all the Air on various labels on another would thematically be much nicer packages I think. Oh well.

[Captain Hate]

I think I agree with all of Vince's caveats but it's certainly better to have this come out in *any* form than not at all. I'll be interested in X-75 Volume 2; not that I think Volume 1 is much other than an interesting side-path excursion HT took but more like I'm still jaded at how the robber baron fucksticks at Sony never put out any of his Situation Society Dance Band recordings, debatably his best stuff ever.

[bigtiny]

One of the things I like about this is that it's a continuation of Mosaic culling the new jazz vaults at Arista/Novus. I was enthused when they did this for the Braxton material (I had been wondering for years why, with Cuscuna's relationship with the label they hadn't done it much sooner) and hoping that they would continue. I'd like to see all of that great Arista stuff out....

bigtiny