mfs@mhuxr.UUCP (SIMON) (01/17/85)
Amina Cludine Myers is a strong post bop pianist with a debt to the late Hassan ibn Ali. Amina Claudine Myers is the successor to early 60s organ trio powerhouses like Jimmy Smith and Shirley Scott. Amina Claudine Myers is a virtuoso singer ready to take her place alongside Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson as one of the greatest of the greats in American black female vocalists. Actually, Amina Claudine Myers is all this and more, a supreme musician that because of stupid labels is lumped in with the jazz avant-garde. She takes from jazz the restless, self searching attitude that makes for constant growth, but she really is that long searched for synthesis among all forms of black music. Aretha came close (see the recent compilation "Aretha's Jazz" on Atlantic, as well as her classic 60s lps), but Aretha, despite her prowess at the piano, was first and foremost a singer. Amina is vocalist, pianist and organist in equal doses of excellence. See her navigate the tricky mood and tempo changes of the post bop piano piece "Cecil B". Now hear the pure gospel "Do You Wanna be Saved?" Then check out the home fried organ of "The Circle of Time". Be awed by the vocal tour de force of "African Blues". I cannot recommend this woman's music too much. Partial Discography: "Amina Claudine Myers salutes Bessie Smith" (Leo 1980). This is the place to start. Her approach to Smith is respectful, but not servile. Side 2, which has her own compositions, features the spectacular 14 minute "African Blues" "The Circle of Time" (Black Saint 1984) "Jumping in the Sugar Bowl" (Minor Music 1984). These two are not far behind. "Bowl" has "Cecil B", the romping nursery rhyme of a title tune and another excellent wordless vocal "Gunten Morgen". "Time" has "Do you wanna be saved", the title tune and "The Bright fields", built on an intriguing chordal pattern. Muhal Richard Abrams, "Duet, featuring Amina Claudine Myers" (Black Saint 1981) This is a piano duet. The contrast between the often austere Abrams and the exuberant Myers is the interest here. See especially the rollicking "Afternoon at the Gene Ammons School" and the 12 bar blues "One for Peggy" "Song for Mother E" (Leo 1979). This is an early effort and a little less successful, notable for the masterful drumming of Pheeroan Ak Laff. She is on other albums, of mostly historical interest: "The 5th Power" with Lester Bowie, "Life Dance of Is" with Oliver Lake and "X-75 Volume 1" with Henry Threadgill. Marcel Simon ..!mhuxr!mfs