| Sacred Ground | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 2 reviews)
Sales Rank: 122442
Category: Music
Artist: David Murray & Black Saint Quartet
Publisher: Justin Time Records
Studio: Justin Time Records
Manufacturer: Justin Time Records
Label: Justin Time Records
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.9 x 0.3
MPN: 204
UPC: 068944020423
EAN: 0068944020423
ASIN: B000PY50ZQ
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Sacred Ground - David Murray Black Saint Quartet, Cassandra Wilson | | • | Transitions | | • | Pierce City | | • | Banished | | • | Believe in Love | | • | Family Reunion | | • | Prophet of Doom - David Murray Black Saint Quartet, Cassandra Wilson |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
"Sacred Ground" is a fascinating and important new recording that grew from David Murray's involvement in the acclaimed documentary film, Banished, directed by Marco Williams. Although it's virtually unknown, more than a dozen counties in the U.S. violently expelled thousands of families between the Civil War and the Great Depression. The film - and this recording - explores not only these historical facts, but also the legacy of these events in the communities and for the descendants of the families. After exploring the themes of the film he'd been asked to score, Murray was inspired - indeed compelled - to dig deeper, and to compose further music. David Murray enlisted poet Ishmael Reed, one of today's pre-eminent African- American literary figures. Reed wrote two poems, performed here by the great Cassandra Wilson. David chose to record this using his Black Saint Quartet - sometimes called Power Quartet, on the group's first outing since the passing of the great John Hicks last year. Logically then, David enlisted pianist Lafayette Gilchrist, informally a Hicks student and admirer, and on drums the great Andrew Cyrille. Bassist Ray Drummond completes this first class group.
Amazon.com
Fresh from his forays into Senegalese, Guadeloupean, and Cuban musical genres, saxophonist/bass clarinetist David Murray has returned "home" to his classic quartet, including drummer Andrew Cyrille, bassist Ray Drummond, and pianist Lafayette Gilchrist, who took over for the late John Hicks. Murray's broad and biting saxlines, which encompass Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, and John Coltrane, imbue this dark-themed CD, inspired by his soundtrack for filmmaker Marco Williams's film Banished, which deals with the post-Civil War ethnic cleansing of African-American communities from several U.S. counties. "Transitions," "Pierce City," "Believe in Love," and "Family Reunion" are Afro-Caribbean-pulsed, tango-tinged, boogaloo-bounced numbers. The poet and long-time collaborator Ishmael Reed and Cassandra Wilson lend their lyrics and vocals to the Tranish title track and to "The Prophet of Doom," a sly, bluesy reference to the ancient Greek woman gifted with prophecy and a singer's name that stretches from Mycenae to Mississippi. --Eugene Holley, Jr.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Very good, mostly serious, jazz August 31, 2008
David Murray and lyricist Ishmael Reid made this CD inspired by 'Banished', which is about African-Americans who were kicked out of their homes. So, it's serious stuff. Cassandra Wilson sings on the first and last songs, and Murray's quartet with Lafayette Gilchrist, Ray Drummond, and Andrew Cyrille play throughout. Much of the music, as you might expect, is blues-based and timeless. It doesn't say modern nor throwback, which is what you'd expect from someone whose free jazz albums continue the jazz tradition. "Transitions" and "Family Reunion" are upbeat and positive-sounding. The playing is strong throughout - David Murray is one of the contemporary greats. Cassandra Wilson's vocals are also very good. The lyrics on the opener are more serious, and the lyrics on the closer are a little more playful. The liner notes say Reid played with the meaning of "Cassandra".
This is recommended for Murray fans, or any fans of jazz, really.
 A Major Statement Of The Human Condition. August 3, 2007
11 out of 14 found this review helpful
(from an extended feature, copyright 2007 Michael F. Hopkins)
Rich in balladry that's strong, serenading, and significant in
the scope of its call, SACRED GROUND is David Murray at his finest.
Deadly and robust as ever in his swing and spirited shout, the
legendary tenor saxophonist brings a particularly haunting shimmer
to the vibrant presentations which fill this latest album from
Montreal's Justin Time Records.
With a quartet featuring Murray alongside drummer Andrew Cyrille,
bassist Ray Drummond, and pianist Lafayette Gilchrist, the superb
dynamics strike deep into the heart and soul. Cyrille is ever the
artful juggler of tempo-tossed thunder which sings and steps
the lightning into sensuous being.
Drummond weaves sheer harmonic tapestries which thread the
rhapsodies with tensile wonder. Gilchrist, taking inspiration from the
sterling chromatics of the astonishing
John Hicks, sets the measure of his
own thematic effervescence here, with performances which playfully
linger long after the day is done. The dare and intimacy of this
quartet's presentation stirs insight which intrigues and compels
all who encounter the tales this Music has to tell.
Two selections, the title theme and the finale ("The Prophet Of
Doom"), feature telling lyrics by master satirist Ishmael Reed,
honed to their most tantalizing poetics by acclaimed singer
Cassandra Wilson. Reed also supplies the CD's exceptional liner
notes, telling the absorbing tale of how the Music and this album
came to be.
Originally written as the soundtrack for the monumental documentary
BANISHED (go to , and gain
sobering wisdom),
Murray's compositions tell a sweeping tale of people in
struggle which cannot be denied. Listen to the twilight wail of
Murray's bass clarinet paying tribute and serving notice on
"Banished", drawing unstoppable tone portraits of sorrow and
tears, blood and trial, lament and resilience.
This entire album is alive with a determined compassion and nimble
wisdom indicative of the greatest Music ever made, and is especially
representative of the Music we know as Jazz. Hanker down to the
down-home surry of "Family Reunion", step into the sauntering tango
of "Believe In Love", and stroll into song which strikes a prevailing
Joy into all who hear.
Travel the paths made by David Murray and all he represents, and know
the full spectrum of human feeling. Know the precious bounty of
walking SACRED GROUND.
Start here.
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