Muzycy:
Hank Roberts: cello
James Zollar: trumpet
Marty Ehrlich: alto saxophone
Michael Sarin: drums

All About Jazz:
The premier of Marty Ehrlich's Rites Quartet, Things Have Got To Change (Clean Feed, 2009), featured the venerable multi-instrumentalist's engaging originals bolstered by a handful of previously unrecorded pieces by his mentor, the late Julius Hemphill (1938-1995). Drawing on Hemphill's seminal work in the St Louis-based Black Artists' Group (BAG), and his innovative writing for the World Saxophone Quartet, Ehrlich has proven to be one of the legendary saxophonist's most ardent devotees, leading Hemphill's self-titled saxophone sextet after his passing.

Named after a phrase culled from a poem by James Marshal—founder of the St. Louis-based Human Arts Ensemble (with whom Ehrlich made his recording debut in 1973)—Frog Leg Logic continues to expand upon Hemphill's storied legacy, while offering pertinent examples of the leader's own brand of robust lyricism. The personnel of Ehrlich's Rites Quartet has changed since its first album; Ehrlich and trumpeter James Zollar are joined by veteran cellist Hank Roberts and drummer Michael Sarin, in place of Erik Friedlander and Pheeroan AkLaff, respectively. Ehrlich's commitment to this unconventional instrumental lineup is no coincidence. The Quartet not only mirrors the instrumentation featured on Hemphill's 1972 masterpiece, Dogon A.D. (Mbari), but takes its name from the record's thorny second tune ("Rites"). Ehrlich works subtle variations from this unique formula, conceiving brilliantly contrasting textures between muted brass, diaphanous reeds, sinewy strings and scintillating percussion that transcend obsequious imitation.

Bristling with energy, the session opens with the title track and closes with "The Gravedigger's Respite," bracing, hard bop-inflected swingers that highlight the quartet's adroit, muscular interplay—an aspect further emphasized in the circuitous melody of "You Can Beat the Slanted Cards," which exudes a similarly jubilant swing, he.......
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Najnowsza płyta jazzowej supergrupy z Nowego Jorku - Marty Ehrlich's Rites Quartet to formacja ciągle poszukująca. Zapewne wielka w tym zasługa lidera i dostarczyciela całości materiału na płytę, Marty’ego Ehrlich’a. Ale nie da się pominąć twórczego wkładu pozostałych członków zespołu, z których każdy jest wziętym jazzmanem.
U podstaw Rites Quartet leży fascynacja Ehrlich’a legendą czarnej awangardy, zmarłym w 1995 roku Julius’em Hemphill’em.
Kwartet Ehrlich’a to powtórzenie klasycznego składu Hemphill’a z Olu Darą na trabce, Warren’em Smith’em na perkusji i Abdulem Wadudem na wiolonczeli.
O poprzedniej płycie kwartetu „Things Have Got to Change„ recenzent Machiny pisał [. . .] zaskakująca świeża, choć przecież klasyczna muzyka, w której jazzowa awangarda kołysze się z wiejskim bluesem, a rytmy afro owiewają subtelne kameralistyczne partie [. . .].

All About Jazz:
The premier of Marty Ehrlich's Rites Quartet, Things Have Got To Change (Clean Feed, 2009), featured the venerable multi-instrumentalist's engaging originals bolstered by a handful of previously unrecorded pieces by his mentor, the late Julius Hemphill (1938-1995). Drawing on Hemphill's seminal work in the St Louis-based Black Artists' Group (BAG), and his innovative writing for the World Saxophone Quartet, Ehrlich has proven to be one of the legendary saxophonist's most ardent devotees, leading Hemphill's self-titled saxophone sextet after his passing.

Named after a phrase culled from a poem by James Marshal—founder of the St. Louis-based Human Arts Ensemble (with whom Ehrlich made his recording debut in 1973)—Frog Leg Logic continues to expand upon Hemphill's storied legacy, while offering pertinent examples of the leader's own brand of robust lyricism. The personnel of Ehrlich's Rites Quartet has changed since its first album; Ehrlich and trumpeter James Zollar are joi.......
more