Themes & Improvisations on the Blues

• Artist: Leroy Jenkins
• Rating:
• Release Date: April 09, 1992
• Total Time: 60:37
• Type: Live
• Genre: Jazz

Review

For a long time, Leroy Jenkins had only been known for his free jazz performances, with little to no attention to his composed work, when in 1992 the Soldier String Quartet and other musicians committed themselves to putting on a performance of Jenkins' compositions. The results are astounding. The four pieces captured on this release are from that concert of April 9, 1992, at the Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The title track would indicate that the piece would sound bluesy, but rather than following the typical 1-4-5 blues chord progression, or even following the blues scale, its connection to blues is more structural than tonal. Sets of instruments lay down a base over which one or two others improvise for a selected amount of time. Most of Jenkins' compositional work can be described as a frame around which the musicians can improvise with simple thematic instructions (like "make it kinky" in the score of "Monkey on the Dragon"). This is an exciting listen with much to stimulate the mind and ear; one can only hope that there are more releases of Jenkins' compositional work planned for the future. ~ Mark W.B. Allender, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Themes & Improvisations on the Blues	Leroy Jenkins	Leroy Jenkins	(18:31)
Panorama 1	Leroy Jenkins	Leroy Jenkins	(13:31)
Off Duty Dryad	Leroy Jenkins	Leroy Jenkins	(13:04)
Monkey on the Dragon	Leroy Jenkins	Leroy Jenkins	(15:31)

Credits

Henry Threadgill (Flute), David Soldier (Violin), Lindsey Horner (Bass), Leroy Jenkins (Violin), Laura Seaton (Violin), Don Byron (Clarinet), Thurman Barker (?), Ladi Odeku (Producer), Vincent Chancey (French Horn), Frank Gordon (Trumpet), Jane Henry (Violin), Carl Baugher (Liner Notes), Ron Lawrence (Viola), Ladi Odeku (Art Direction), Tania León (Conductor), Jeff Hoyer (Trombone), Mary Wooton (Cello), Ellen Fitton (Mastering), Janet Grice (Bassoon), Marty Ehrlich (Clarinet (Bass)), Linda Harris (Photography), Leroy Jenkins (Mastering), Myra Melford (Piano), Thurman Barker (Trap Kit)