Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 10/14/2003
Even more come across the time-worn paths of ether and obscurity:
Children on the Corner is a collective made up of ex-
Miles Davis sidemen from his eclectic years that include
Sonny Fortune,
Michael Henderson,
Badal Roy,
Ndugu Chancler, and
Barry Finnerty. The band is led by keyboardist and composer
Michael Wolff, the only non-
Davis personnel.
Rebirth was recorded live over two nights at the popular Oakland, CA, nightspot
Yoshi's. The program is a set of tunes from
Davis, as well as some group and
Wolff originals. The album kicks off with one of the most inspiring readings of
Josef Zawinul's
"Directions." For over 21 minutes,
Fortune and
Wolff explore the outer reaches of
Davis' loose harmonic universe. The small vamps and riffs are deceptive in that they provide a framework for all kinds of harmonic interaction across numerous planes. Dissonance and groove enter into a beautiful dialogue as
Fortune blows the living hell out of his ax.
Wolff's fills with the right hand to provide a reference not for returning, but for jumping off, and
Finnerty's razored chords and riffing patterns keep
blues and
funk in the forefront of the groove itself.
"New York Girl" is done is two parts here with the band's own
"Oakland Raga" -- featuring
Roy's shimmering tables on the tip of the greasy
funk underneath inserted between sections of
Wolff's own compositions.
"Madimba" and
"Tone Poem" are melodic tonal studies that borrow from
Davis'
modalism as much as they do his minimalism and open the way for the
psychedelic street jam
"Bb Philly Funk." The set closes with an elongated, greatly inspired performance of the singsong-y
"Black Satin," with the rhythm section bringing it home into the mysterioso
Selim S'evade darkness with nods to
George Clinton. In all, this is a fine, deftly played, and emotionally fired-up recording, one of the better post-
Davis tributes out there; it deserves to be heard for the depth of inspiration and sheer musicianship between bandmembers alone. That the music stands on its own outside the
Davis connection is a tribute to the emotional and musical commitment of
Children on the Corner.
~Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
;)
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