Reviewer:
Augy
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November 5, 2008
Subject:
Branford steps in to further move brightly, the inspiration !
First let me say, that I realize I wrote this in a rather convoluted way, but if you bare with me hopeful it will make sense. Secondly, since I've been trying to repair my reviews, I didn't realize I had two of them up here for the same show? Is that me, that spaced out or did they post it wrong because I have yet to find out how to access the other review. Oh, well!
I'm just speculating, when I imagine that it could be possible, and thus not surprise me, if someone were to criticize this performance in such a way, although I've never heard any mention as such, as to be be partial to Marsalis' New York appearances. I was lucky enough to have seen both on the west coast, namely, New Year's in Oakland and this show. Now I've heard and seen in the case of Madison Sq. recordings of the New York shows quite a few times.
[If this next section doesn't make sense, don't worry about it. I hesitated to make this analogy, since it requires so much off subject explaining. Believe it or not, I omitted facts that lead me to this analogy in the first place.]
I also remember perceiving at that New Year's show, despite Branford's presence, the Dark Star as weakest of the five I've seen, mostly because it was short and Jerry's illness of some sorts at the time, reduced his singing ability, However, I did see, on a website similar to this, (which shall be remain nameless, partially because for reasons unknown, that critique or set of critiques, has long since been removed), contradicting my assessment of level of that Dark Star. Coming from someone possessing what I "normally", or should I say otherwise, would consider an "expert opinion", (since apparently, this fellow had studied in detail, virtually every known recording of Dark Star and The Other One, a category to which, by the way, I don't claim membership).
In so reasoning, probably I suspect in a similar way, (but never clarified as to how or why), as I do below, in reference to Eternity here at this L.A. show. I figure that must be kind of like, (since I just re-listened to the following the other day), the Dark Star they played in Miami in '89, (which I didn't attend), where although they really went "outside" (see below), Jerry sang very poorly.
I say all this, because even though I have heard this and do remember the show as probably the best of the three, I haven't heard it that many times; certainly not as many times as I have the New York shows, nor as recently.
Therefore, since I would like to remain credible given that, not only have I seen some bad or mediocre reviews recently, of what remember to have enjoyed, (although my enjoyment was primarily bolstered by a rarity or new tune etc. in a given case), hence, just because this had Branford included doesn't guarantee it's high rating. ie. I'm trying to remain objective since too many times have I found people raving how good they were when I was certain of the mediocrity.
Yet, in light of the fact that in general, (which I believe has more to do with my instead of decreasing, as it should have been, increasing lack of the wherewithal to obtain, a recording shortly after a given show, as well as the frequency of how generic many shows were becoming, before the introduction of all, and I mean "all", of the then latest, and now obviously, the "last" set of new tunes), resulting in my certainty regarding a given show's level of intensity being much greater in reference to early or midway through the period I saw them perform ('76 -'94), than for the later ones. Thus tempering my confidence to the extent, that I should feel compelled to write all this.
Having once, at least, wrote an over confident praise of a show I hadn't heard in a very long time, due to the theft of my old recordings; latter to realize I had exaggerated in reference to the performance besides, and in addition to, the sound itself being disappointingly far worse than expected, ie. than what I had originally.
What I mean is, indeed Branford was inspiring for most all of us. But just because I was there and so was he, doesn't remove my hesitation to simply claim it's greatness without exception, thus potentially overstating the truth, as I did at least once before.
Nevertheless, I'm more confident in my memory of Eternity as being particularly outside, if you will ! (An old jazz bebop expression, a term that gee, I haven't really used in a very long time. Again, I guess Branford being a sax player, brings me back to saying that.)
So, rather than continue carrying on adnauseam, my efforts conveying what's generated my caution in applying adulation, almost irrationally so, in reviewing this one; perhaps it is more appropriate for me to reserve that for, (by not reviewing at all), the several late era shows for which, given that having not soon there after obtained a recording, and unlike this one, having a no direct clear cut legitimate reference, with which, despite the total and frequency of my having listened to this being few and far between can be mitigated, namely, Branford Marsalis if, but probably and hopefully not, the only one, since as I said to start with, implying that mutual thing, with which I'm certain you'll familiar namely, that "inspiration moves me (or we/us) brightly", and simply shut up, after giving in to say : This one is hot, get the download!
Augy
San Diego