Riddle of the Sphinx

Amazon.com
The African civilization of Ancient Egypt has inspired jazz artists for decades. John Coltrane, Randy Weston, Jimmy Giuffre, and Paul Horn have recorded albums and compositions about that fabled land. With this CD, alto/soprano saxophonist Mark Gross has produced a welcome addition to that esteemed list. Backed by Mulgrew Miller on piano, Joe Locke on vibraphone and marimba, Darryl Hall on bass, Brian Blade on drums, and Khalid Kwame Bell on percussion, Gross leads a jazzy caravan to where the past meets the present. Gross's "Valley of the Dry Bones" and the title track (with John LaBarbera on oud) echo Yusef Lateef and Coltrane's exotic, mid-1960s excursions. On Miller's "Eastern Joy Dance," the pianist adopts McCoy Tyner's pointillistic chord voicings, which are powered by Blade's intricate nod to Elvin Jones. Gross's heartfelt takes on Billy Strayhorn's "Isfahan," Kenny Garrett's "Lullabye of Isfahan," Cannonball Adderley's "Marabi," and Wayne Shorter's classic "Black Nile" show off his full alto and soprano sax sound. The twin peaks of the CD are the "The Red Sea," with its bewitching ostinato, and the habaneralike "The Desert Sands of Cairo." The motto of J Curve, this astounding project's record label, is "historic moments in jazz," and they have one here. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Riddle of the Sphinx,Mark Gross,J-Curve Records,Country,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Post-Bop,Sax (Alto)

Average customer rating: Good all around Inspired Debut CD is near perfect

Riddle of the Sphinx Mark Gross Manufacturer: J-Curve Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music Bebop & Post-Bop | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00004SVIJ Release Date: 2000-05-16

Tracks:

1. Valley Of The Dry Bones
2. Moses In Egypt
3. Eastern Joy Dance
4. Lullaby Of Isfahan
5. Riddle Of The Sphinx
6. The Desert Sands Of Cairo
7. Black Nile
8. Isfahan
9. Marabi
10. The Red Sea

Amazon.com

The African civilization of Ancient Egypt has inspired jazz artists for decades. John Coltrane, Randy Weston, Jimmy Giuffre, and Paul Horn have recorded albums and compositions about that fabled land. With this CD, alto/soprano saxophonist Mark Gross has produced a welcome addition to that esteemed list. Backed by Mulgrew Miller on piano, Joe Locke on vibraphone and marimba, Darryl Hall on bass, Brian Blade on drums, and Khalid Kwame Bell on percussion, Gross leads a jazzy caravan to where the past meets the present. Gross's "Valley of the Dry Bones" and the title track (with John LaBarbera on oud) echo Yusef Lateef and Coltrane's exotic, mid-1960s excursions. On Miller's "Eastern Joy Dance," the pianist adopts McCoy Tyner's pointillistic chord voicings, which are powered by Blade's intricate nod to Elvin Jones. Gross's heartfelt takes on Billy Strayhorn's "Isfahan," Kenny Garrett's "Lullabye of Isfahan," Cannonball Adderley's "Marabi," and Wayne Shorter's classic "Black Nile" show off his full alto and soprano sax sound. The twin peaks of the CD are the "The Red Sea," with its bewitching ostinato, and the habaneralike "The Desert Sands of Cairo." The motto of J Curve, this astounding project's record label, is "historic moments in jazz," and they have one here. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Good all around.......2002-01-24

The first time I heard "Riddle of the Sphinx" on the radio, I was more than impressed. It took a while to track this cd down, but it was well worth it. Mark Gross' music is fantastic. It's the perfect thing to listen to anytime, whether looking for a boost or something to relax to.

Inspired Debut CD is near perfect.......2000-10-08

Another talented saxophonist emerges with a debut CD (U.S Release) that delights and amazes. Most solo debuts are often cautious collections of standards without a lot that challenges. Instead, Mark Gross has emerged with a concept album with Egypt as the theme. And every song is a gem. Five self-penned titles and five others - one each from from Mulgrew Miller (appearing here on piano), Wayne Shorter, Kenny Garrett, Duke Ellington (in a sublime Miller-Gross duet of Isfahan), and Cannonball Adderly. It's a seamless, flowing dynamic whole. One begins to feel something special on the opener "Valley of the Dry Bones" with a marimba solo by Joe Locke followed by a searing, sinuous solo by Gross that ultimately blends and fades with John LaBarbara's Oud.

This is inspired stuff, ranking with Randy Weston's Spirit of our Ancestors. Recently Robert Stewart attempted an Eastern-inspired outing (The Force, 1998) with a similar sound but poor production decisions which led many of the tunes into meandering drum solos. No production mistakes here. Each tune is finely conceived and a mini-masterpiece in its own right. Each piece flows logically into the next. An album that guys will like for it's energy and inventiveness and women will relish for it's sesuousness and warmth. My choice for the best jazz CD of 2000 so far. Congratulations to Mark for a spectacular debut. His is a brilliant new voice in the all-too-conservative world of today's jazz. One can only hope he can keep the faith and vision for future projects.

Average customer rating:

Fun House Riddle the Sphinx ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000FTKNGC Release Date: 2006-01-24

Tracks:

1. Shepherd's Hill
2. Vagabond
3. Into Forever
4. Lullaby
5. Fallen Ones
6. Fun House
7. Almost
8. Judgment Day
9. Sandman
10. Hunger
11. Romanza
12. Nickel a Drink
13. Lullaby Unplugged

Average customer rating:

Riddle of the Sphinx Michel Genest and Anton Mizerak Manufacturer: Antiquity ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000LCD388

Product Description

Tracks include: Luxor, Passage, Sun-Ra, King's Chamber, The Green Face, Kailash, Equinox, Samsara, and Metamorphosis.

Average customer rating:

The Fallen Ones Riddle the Sphinx Manufacturer: Elyn ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00008J272 Release Date: 1999-01-31

Tracks:

1. Hunger
2. This Night
3. Eyes That Cradle
4. Judgment Day
5. Palms Upward
6. Spider
7. The Fallen Ones
8. Listening to Grass
9. Pain is a Feeling
10. Said the Concubine
11. Weaving a Tale

Album Description

Lush and ethereal, ELYN blends rock-driven piano and world music percussion with haunting melodies, textured harmonies, and evocative lyrics that linger in your mind long after the songs are over.

Average customer rating:

The Riddle of the Sphinx Manufacturer: Mark Custom ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music ASIN: B000036537 Release Date: 1999-11-09

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