"One of the great revelations of this rerelease is the rediscovery of Tyrone Washington. The tenor saxophonist burst on to the jazz scene on pianist Horace Silver's The Jody Grind (Blue Note, 1966) and his own Blue Note date, Natural Essence (1967). By the time of this collaboration with Stadler, he was migrating more towards soul-jazz- fusion. Here, however, he affirms his avant-garde credentials with urgent honks and screeches on the intensely melodic and delightfully cacophonous "No Exercise," and his John Coltrane-esque, simultaneously bluesy and free, solo on "Three Problems." Washington's skills as a flautist are also on display as he plays a soaring storm of notes on "USC." Stadler's angular piano, with its carefully placed notes, guides Washington and other bandmates effectively through the intricacies of his compositions."
HRAYR ATTARIAN, / allaboutjazz
Labor Records
Tracks: No Exercise; Three Problems; Heidi; Bea's Flat; Love In The Middle Of The Air; U.C.S.; All Tones; The Fugue No. 2.
Personnel: Jimmy Owens: trumpet; Tyrone Washington: tenor saxophone, flute; Garnett Brown: trombone; Heiner Stadler: piano; Reggie Workman: bass; Brian Blake: drums; Lenny White: drums; Dee Dee Bridgewater: vocals; Joe Farrell: tenor saxophone; Don Friedman: piano; Barre Phillips: bass; Joe Chambers: drums; The Big Band of the North German Radio Station conducted by Dieter Glawischnig; Manfred Schoof: cornet; Gerd Dudek: tenor saxophone; Albert Mangelsdorff: trombone; Wolfgang Dauner: piano; Lucas Lindholm: bass; Tony Inzalaco: drums.
