2 February 2014

Wadada Leo Smith - What is Democracy?



What is Democracy? is the second part of Wadada Leo Smith's three-part Ten Freedom Summers, performed by his Golden Quartet and the Ligeti String Quartet over three nights at Café Oto in November 2013, as part of the London jazz festival.

Yes, the message is there, but this is dense, powerful music that delivers its message through elegant complexity. There is a propulsive force that reminds me of Mingus and Cecil Taylor, and Wadada seems to want to make reference to several voices of Miles Davis - I can hear mid-50s Miles to begin with, and Live-Evil later, and it is this changing voice that seems to successfully create the space for the string quartet in the later pieces. Wonderful stuff - let's hope that Radio 3 broadcast more, or that Café Oto release a recording of all three nights - the entire suite is however available as a studio recording (highly recommended).

Many thanks to Tom Philips who recorded this from Radio 3 in excellent quality, and also to Stefano for the artwork included.

Ten Freedom Summers - Second Collection: What is Democracy?

Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Anthony Davis (piano)
John Lindberg (bass)
Anthony Brown (drums)

The Ligetti Quartet
Mandhira de Saram (violin)
Patrick Dawkins (violin)
Richard Jones (viola)
Ben Davis (cello)

00 - Interview + Intro (2.17)
01 - Freedom Summers (6.08)
02 - Medgar Evers (23.55)
03 - Sunday Morning (16.23)
04 - Emmet Till (23.43)

Café Oto, London, 22nd November, 2013

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13 comments:

  1. Tantris2 February 2014 at 12:23:00 CET

    In two separate Zippyshare folders;

    Zippy 1

    Zippy 2

    ReplyDelete
  2. wightdj2 February 2014 at 23:02:00 CET

    Thanks for more Wadada.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lee26 January 2015 at 17:53:00 CET

    I never did comment, but this is a fantastic amendment to the studio recording. Did anybody happen to capture the second broadcast from Radio 3?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ernst Grgo Nebhuth26 January 2015 at 20:15:00 CET

    Don't know why I missed this - maybe there's a chance for a re-up?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tantris1 February 2015 at 14:13:00 CET

    Hi onxidlib - I'll re-up in the next few days

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tantris1 February 2015 at 14:34:00 CET

    Well, I found the files more quickly than anticipated, so here are new links;

    Wadada_1

    Wadada_2

    Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ernst Grgo Nebhuth4 February 2015 at 00:34:00 CET

    Oh yes. Thanks very much, Tantris - looking forward to hear it - Wadada Leo Smith's music has recently met my ears quiet often - and I'm happy to have some more from him.
    Nowadays he sounds still so great.
    Finally he's got some more recognition.

    ReplyDelete
  8. vilstef7 March 2015 at 04:33:00 CET

    Many thanks, Tantris! I appreciate the re-up, and I'm glad I didn't miss this party!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ilario Rozen30 July 2015 at 11:09:00 CEST

    hi Tantris
    please plese a new opportunity
    tanks in advance Ilario

    ReplyDelete
  10. Tantris31 July 2015 at 08:18:00 CEST

    I'm away for the next couple of weeks so will upload again when I'm back, unless someone else can do this before then.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ilario Rozen28 August 2015 at 10:23:00 CEST

    Dear Tantris
    nobody has uploaded Café Oto , London , 22nd November , 2013 .
    Please still a possibility .
    Thanks in advance Ilario

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tantris29 August 2015 at 17:45:00 CEST

    Sure, here are new links;

    WLS1

    WLS2

    WLS3

    WLS4

    Let us know what you think of the music, llario.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ilario Rozen30 August 2015 at 11:36:00 CEST

    Tantris, many many thanks

    I am looking for this:
    wadada leo smith great lakes suites lisboa 2015

    Thanks for your great contribution
    Ilario

    ReplyDelete