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Guitarist Joel Harrison's 25th CD, Anthem of Unity, brings
together a once-in-a-lifetime ensemble that showcases his most
pointed and focused work as a jazz musician yet. The team of Gary
Versace, with his virtuosic and soul-drenched B-3 organ, Greg
Tardy, one of our finest jazz woodwind players, and the legendary
drummer Jack DeJohnette, exhibits extraordinary musicianship in a
program of six Harrison originals, Sonny Rollins' “Doxy,” and Bob
Dylan's “The Times They Are A-Changin'.” Tardy shows the range of
his considerable abilities here, developing interesting ideas and
phrases throughout his many solos. Versace has been about
everywhere at this point, with giants such as Maria Schneider, the
late John Abercrombie, Kurt Elling, Al Foster, and he anchors the
bottom end on the Hammond as DeJohnette continually ignites the
band. This is a blowing session, at times tender and at times
volcanic, whose interplay and organic, visceral power is palpable
from the first to last tune.
JOEL HARRISON, guitar • Gary Versace, Hammond B-3
organ, piano (track 3 only) • Gregory Tardy, tenor saxophone,
clarinet (track 6 only) • Jack DeJohnette, drums
TRACKS: Anthem of Unity • Survival Instinct • The
Times They Are A-Changin’ • Today is Tomorrow’s Yesterday • Doxy •
Migratory Birds • Parvati • Mohawk Valley Peace Dance
Today
Is Tomorrow’s Yesterday
The
Times They Are A-Changin’
Doxy
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