Speed,Chris Light Line CD

Chris Speed, a driving force of modern jazz for decades, presents Light Line, an impressive solo statement on the clarinet. The repertoire of this musical legacy includes his own pieces and short improvisations, as well as compositions by inspiring luminaries such as John Coltrane, Julius Hemphill, Eric Dolphy and Paul Motion. In addition, there are compositions by friends and long-time musical companions such as Andrew D'Angelo, Sk?li Sverrisson and Hilmar Jensson. There is "an implicit guiding light through the whole project: the commitment to reduction, to finding the power in taking things away, the power in trusting that there is still a lot there once you do take the surface layers away, and above all an undying commitment to melody in some elemental sense as the primary element in music", writes Anthony Burr in the liner notes.

1. Light Line 2. Drifting (Sk·li Sverrisson) 3. Sphasos Triem (Andrew D'angelo) 4. Tassos 5. Miss Ann (Eric Dolphy) 6. Rites (Julius Hemphill) 7. Cat Heaven 8. Sparkle Pants 9. Retrogression 10. Shields Up 11. A Week from Now (Hilmar Jensson) 12. Enfant (Ornette Coleman) 13. La Rosita Arribe±a (Jos? de Jes·s Hinojosa Gonzßlez) 14. Sun Ship (John Coltrane) 15. It Should've Happened a Long Time Ago (Paul Motian)