As with artists such as David Bowie, Miles Davis, and Prince, the creativity of James Newton is a bottomless pit, the lower reaches of which a listener never can reach. Just when you think you have the mark of the man, a new facet opens up, another wormhole to explore and challenge any preconceived ideas. One lifetime is never enough to understand the various nooks and crannies of his discography, and that’s where a good live album comes in. Live In Willisau, Switzerland 1983 is one such example, and finds the James Newton Quartet in exceptionally good form, delivering four tracks that give a glimpse at the magic that occurs when four talented musicians lock into a singular groove and feed off their own remarkable prowess.
While Live In Willisau will be foremost of interest to jazz aficionados, it certainly has crossover appeal and fans of progressive rock will find a spiritual home here. Yet, the appeal of this album will reach anyone who thinks genre divisions are something to be demolished rather than built and opening track ‘Reincarnation Of A Lovebird’ (a cover of the Charles Mingus classic) perfectly illustrates the connection between classical music and prog rock. It’s a song of many suites with a central motif holding it together that is totally addictive; the intro encapsulates some of the excitement that’s created when an orchestra is warming up, then when the band fall into step they sweep the listener along on a breezy kind of effervescence. It’s a tight-but-loose ethos with which they swing, structured but organic, sometimes heavy footed, at others fleet of foot, with the band constantly probing at music’s extremities. It’s a song that affords the band members a solo, with Newton’s flute being particularly expressive and floating like a bird caught on an autumnal breeze, but it’s as a collective that they work best and endeavour to stamp their own mark on this classic tune (which is how all covers should be handled.
Each of the four tracks comprising this release tend to veer towards the epic, yet the Quartet have a touch of Eric Dolphy about them and the hypnotic compositions seem to alter the very fabric of time and turn minutes into mere moments. Case in point is ‘Forever Charles’, a James Newton original that’s akin to following a trail of breadcrumbs; Newton’s flute leads the listener to some unexpected destinations (not unlike the Pied Piper) and is so all encompassing it that seems to take you from this world and towards some higher plane. Likewise, Geri Allen’s piano solo that appears mid song is tempestuous and as stormy as a sea, sometimes calm, at others crashing like waves to a shore, yet there’s always a central motif acting as an anchor. On final track ‘The Printmakers’ (an Allen composition) the rhythm section comes to the fore with Anthony Cox’s bass stomping like an angry Golem and Andrew Cyrille’s drums firing like cannons in the night. The more volatile end of Herbie Hancock, the Quartet are always pushing and exploring and that makes Live In Willisau part album, part musical education.
“Thank you” is James Newton’s parting shot at the finale of ‘The Printmakers’. No, James. It’s us who should be thanking you.
- Live In Willisau, Switzerland 1983 is released via Rhythm ‘N’ Flow Records Records on 7th November 2025.
- Official Website
Track List:
- Reincarnation Of A Lovebird
- Pinkie Below
- Forever Charles
- The Printmakers
