A true masterpiece.
This is one of the best jazz albums ever recorded. It’s so sparse and delicate with a dreamy touch. It’s forward thinking and progressive in many ways, while using templates from the past, this music explores the possibilities of creating new ways of expressing the art form with an earthly yet heavenly, tastefully calming and rooted, yet thought provoking and modern soundscape that stays with you long after the needle has left the grooves.
The album, according to the liner notes, and I quote; is about love, inspired by, and dedicated to, Mrs. Dickerson whose portrait graces the cover.
Dickerson was an amazing artist and a master of the vibraphone. He hums along when he plays, but that’s just part of the charm. He is joined by the great Andrew Hill on piano, George Tucker on double bass and Andrew Cyrille on drums.
Hill plays very lyrical on this session but his exploring and searching way of playing is not lost. George Tucker was a lovely bassist and he gets plenty of room to shine as well. Cyrille’s drumming is one of the highlights of this album and he recorded several albums with Dickerson as well as with Cecil Taylor, among plenty of others. His discography is quite extensive and I need to explore that catalogue in depth for sure.
This copy is an original mono pressing with the correct NJLP 8283 A & B on the labels and it plays amazing. The record is pressed with pure virgin vinyl and it isn’t marred with any recycled vinyl hiss. It’s extremely difficult to find this in this condition and without the later Side 1 and 2 label text. The cover is very prone to ring wear, but this copy was in the shrink and that has kept it clean as a whistle.
Been looking a long time for this title and I finally landed one of my most wanted and couldn’t be happier.
Do you have a favorite Dickerson? Please share.