Sphere - The Complete Live At Umbria Jazz

Sphere - The Complete Live At Umbria Jazz - Stanley Crouch considers Sphere the most important combo in recent jazz history. In more recent times, archival research in the Red Records tape vault yielded two quarter-inch tapes, previously thought to be blank, lodged with the Sphere holdings. However, on closer inspection a single Sphere track was discovered on each of the otherwise blank reels. This was a major discovery, as incredibly, for such an important jazz group. And here, perhaps, is the reason why the precious few recordings of Sphere can be returned to time and again and they are still able to reveal a little more of themselves each time. They are informed by one of the great masters of modern jazz, but not dominated. Rather, Monk's inspiration acts as a spur to creativity as each member congregates around their very specific group ethic while remaining true to the spirit of the masters.