Jazzmatazz Review - Henry Threadgill - Everybodys Mouth's A Book & Up Popped The Two Lips

Henry Threadgill
Everybodys Mouth's A Book (Pi)
Up Popped the Two Lips (Pi)

Alto saxophonist, flautist, bandleader and composer Henry Threadgill hadn't recorded an album since his 1997 Columbia release Where’s Your Cup, which was made with his group Make a Move. His fans have been rewarded for their long wait with two excellent new recordings on a new label, Pi. One CD is by Make a Move; the other is by Zooid, a new Threadgill group.

Make a Move is Threadgill's electric group, with electric guitar, electric bass, vibes and drums in addition to Threadgill's alto and flute. The new album Everybodys Mouth's A Book starts quietly and slowly with "Platinum Inside Straight," which functions as an introduction using acoustic guitar and vibes, gentle percussion and bass, followed by a flute solo from Threadgill. The album then switches to electric guitar and bass for the rest of the album, starting with "Don't Turn Around," an odd-metered, yet driving and swinging piece where Threadgill layers patterns of instruments on top of each other.

Up Popped the Two Lips is the first album by his acoustic, string-oriented group Zooid, which uses the unusual combination of guitar, oud and cello. The group also includes a tuba that, together with the acoustic guitar, makes the group sometimes sound reminiscent of early jazz and at other times gives it an Eastern feel.

Both albums feature hypnotically mysterious, complex compositions. Often, so much is going on simultaneously that it can be rewarding to concentrate one's listening on different elements on different listens-I've enjoyed switching from listening to the effect of the whole piece to listening to one instrument or to the interaction of a pair of instruments. These are two exciting albums.

— Alan Lankin, May 2002

Release Date: 16 October 2001

Everybodys Mouth's A Book (Pi)

Personnel:
Henry Threadgill: alto sax, flute / Brandon Ross: acoustic, electric guitars / Tarik Benbrahim: oud / Jose Davila: tuba / Dana Leong: cello / Dafnis Prieto: drums

Up Popped The Two Lips (Pi)

Personnel:
Henry Threadgill: alto sax, flute / Liberty Ellman: acoustic guitar / Bryan Carrott: marimba, vibes / Stomu Takeishi: bass / Dafnis Prieto: drums

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last update 8 May 2002

Henry Threadgill Everybodys Mouth's A Book (Pi) Up Popped the Two Lips (Pi)

Henry Threadgill
Everybodys Mouth's A Book (Pi)
Up Popped the Two Lips (Pi)