Track Listing

1. Spyra
2. Astral Radium
3. G.D.D.
4. Night and Day
5. Nightrance
6. Ultra-Axis
7. Clowns
8. High Stakes
9. Geri
10. Northern Lights

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #340934 in Music
• Released on: 1996-01-30
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Trumpeter Wallace Roney's work is often linked to that of Miles Davis, and there's an undeniable resemblance in his sparse lines, carefully placed notes, and concentrated sense of expression. It's a positive resemblance, though, and one that's been endorsed by Davis himself and by close associates like Herbie Hancock and Gerry Mulligan. Here he's heard to excellent effect in his regular working band, with his brother Antoine, a rapidly developing player on tenor saxophone, and strong support from pianist Carlos McKinney, bassist Clarence Seay, and the potent drummer Eric Allen. It's a powerful, modally based music, filled with darkly murmuring lines and an emotional force that's too rare among the more conservative wing of contemporary players. --Stuart Broomer

Customer Reviews

further explorations of davis/shorter etc concepts
Well, how you ll like this music depends on what you expect. Wallace Roney is known for his lyrical trumpet playing, similar sounding to Miles Davis lyrical trumpet playing. You find this here also, but that s not reason I gave it 5 stars. Listening to this disc I hear further exploration of 60' concept of Davis, Shorter, Hancock, Williams, Carter (played under Miles Davis Quintet) - the albums like Miles Smiles, Neffertiti, Sorcerer etc. The concept that was abandoned for many years (though sometimes played by VSOP Quintet).
Here it is back and explorated further - the polyrhytmic playing, strange, cool, amazing melodies, modal to "free" harmonies etc. All players in this Quintet contribute to this.
Although it doesnt sound "hot", there is a lot of emotions there - the interesting formal concept combined with interesting improvisations and creative playing as well. Just listen to songs that are available on Amazon, and you will know.
So, it is almost sure that this is not going to be Wallace Roney s best selling album for people who like to listen deeper and for those who liked 60 s Miles Davis Quintet highly recommended.
Being aware of situation in music industry I thank Wallace Roney for the courage.

Unfulfilled Potential
Wallace Roney has one of the most beautiful trumpet tones since Miles but his recorded output after his straight-ahead Muse sides has been slim and uninspired. The theory here seems to be that if you like Miles 60's quintet, you'll like this. Sorry, but the meandering, abstract tunes never catch fire. The sound is nice but the feeling is strange. No swing or fire. His next CD, "Village" is much better with more life. I'd recommend his Muse reissue compilation (on 32 Jazz), "No Job Too Big or Small" for well-played, swinging classic jazz, but Roney needs a creative breakthrough if he's going to make his mark in the '00s.

An excellent clone of mid-to-late-60s Miles
I bought this CD upon its original release and was stunned (not pleasantly) by its mimicry of mid-to-late-60s Miles. Roney makes good music but it is extremely formulaic with the formula being Miles Quintet albums such as "Miles in the Sky," "Filles," "Smiles," "ESP," etc. Roney clones the musical sounds and tempos of albums like these and does so to admirable effect. Therefore, the album is enjoyable because Roney is an excellent clone but why bother with it when the originals by Miles are clearly superior. This albums is too much music-by-numbers and, therefore, short on spirit. I've seen Roney many times, including with his piano-phenomenon-wife Geri Allen (from whom he could learn something about originality). He puts on a good show, but his impulsive mimicing of Miles is a serious limit, to this day (e.g., Mystral), on his creative output.