The Dark Tree cover

The Dark Tree

Recorded
Released

Pianist Tapscott was a crucial figure in West Coast avant-garde jazz for decades, leading the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra since the 1960s. This live double disc, recorded in 1989, showcases his playing in a different context: a quartet featuring clarinetist John Carter, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Andrew Cyrille, whose precision strikes throughout and marching rhythm on “Lino’s Pad” in particular give the music a fierce intensity. Tapscott’s music had a questing quality that strove for beauty and uplift, and this is the sound of his spirit in full flower.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Duets cover

Duets

Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell
Poof cover

Poof

Henry Threadgill
Illusionary Sea cover

Illusionary Sea

Mary Halvorson Septet
Big Band cover

Big Band

Julius Hemphill
Weasels Ripped My Flesh cover

Weasels Ripped My Flesh

The Mothers of Invention, Frank Zappa
Gold Blood cover

Gold Blood

Fushitsusha
Blues & Bach: The Music of John Lewis cover

Blues & Bach: The Music of John Lewis

Michele Corcella, Enrico Pieranunzi, Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana
2 Days In April cover

2 Days In April

Hamid Drake, Fred Anderson, "Kidd" Jordan, William Parker