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Ganesh Sound Renunciation Suite Mikuro's Blues Ganesh Sound (Reprise) Saturnian

Officially released on AUM Fidelity records (AUM042.) Part Of Vision Fest 11. "The final set of this year's Vision Fest was the most anticipated of all, the final US performance by the great David S. Ware Quartet. When it was first announced that this was to be their final appearance, we got a great deal of e-mail from fans around the world wondering how could this great band come to an end. According to Matt Shipp, 17 years is a long time and it is time for the group to move on. Mr. Ware would like to do more recording with strings and both Matt & William are quite busy with dozens of other projects. Ware did some acting in France last year as well, so perhaps his or their time has finally come to do something else. Orsensanz was packed for this set and there was a great feeling that something special was about to happen. Perhaps we expected too much. The first piece began with solo tenor sax, followed by a solemn, gospel/blues-like them from the rest of the trio. It was an elegant, memorable theme and quietly hypnotic. For the second piece, Ware took another long solo tenor intro, full of bluster and restrained fire. Again the trio plays by themselves faster and freer, but they are not really connecting with Mr. Ware. Very strange. Matt was most impressive, playing layers of dark chords with more hushed passages. When Matt laid out, David soloed more intensely with just the bass and drums, the temperature starting to rise. Finally, for the third piece, the quartet erupts together with the piano and sax pushing each other higher and higher as the bass and drums also ascend together. The next piece begins with dream-like bowed bass and hushed, lovely piano. It slowly builds in tempo and intensity, remaining as just a duo. The next piece is another great quartet piece, that I recognize from an earlier Ware CD. The melody is one that you can never forget and David takes a dark yet beautiful sax solo. The last piece of the set is a prayer-like song, with the piano rumbling dark chords as David takes a soulful, warm and enchanting solo on tenor. The encore is an odd choice, which erupted quickly, then stopped and started again. The piece is filled with fractured moments, explosive, yet incomplete. It is almost as if the Ware Quartet doesn't want to really let go and give up the spirit completely. It was a most historic set, with some brilliant moments, yet there was something unresolved. Word is that the David S. Ware Quaret will play a few festivals in Europe this year, before they give up the ghost completely."

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