JOE McPHEE
ALTO
roar17 LP
sold out
Listen :  |
Lower East Side Shout |
| Listen : |
Old Eyes |
Alto joins Tenor and Soprano to complete a discrete trilogy within Joe McPhee’s catalog of unaccompanied waxings. Recorded live at a Lower East Side bar in 2009, McPhee’s explorations on alto saxophone and alto clarinet are alternately fiery and contemplative, imbued with the masterful intelligence that’s marked his work for over forty years. A limited edition of 524 copies on 180 gram vinyl, with a Judith Lindbloom silkscreen print on rice paper and liner notes by Hank Shteamer. Digital download coupon included.
A special lettered edition of 26 copies, with hand-painted covers by Judith Lindbloom, signed by Joe McPhee, can be seen here (sold out).
“McPhee brings the same soulful yearning and exacting intelligence to the alto as to his other instruments… [his] inclusiveness and the discipline with which he exercises it, rather than the fact that he’s playing alto horns, is the real significance of this record.” – Bill Meyer, The Wire
“Alto realizes uncountable details of the lanugage he continues to uncover, whether or not those details plump up muscular abstractions or ornamentally twist the skeletons of old tunes.” – Lyn Horton, All About Jazz
“an amazing amazing document by master McPhee. all on alto (-sax and -clar )….he is a monster. this music is HEAVY… it doesnt get heavier… totally FANFUCKINTASTIC!” – Mats Gustafsson
“An inspired set that once again proves that in terms of instrumental inventiveness and dexterity, McPhee is truly one of the greats of this music.” – Jay Collins, Cadence