Lacy, Steve – “Solo:Live at Unity Temple ” – [Wobbly Rail]

Thurston Hunger   9/4/2005   CD, Jazz

Here is the sound of a graceful bird in flight as
captured by sax legend Lacy. The notes ride on
such smooth air, and despite a few octave leaps
and dives…you know the wings will not fail. You
are never surprised nor stunned by the playing:
no circular breathing calisthenics or over-blowing
throaty blow-outs. Instead you are continually
caressed by the wind of Lacy’s mind. The inital
homage to Thelonius Monk is ripe with melody and
soothing phrases. “Revenue” takes its theme up
high where the air gets a little thin, but there’s
no panic or plummeting. “Absence” starts off with
a spoken beatnik beatitude. No new compositions,
but all recorded live 1997 solo in a temple built
by Frank Lloyd Wright, and floated, foundation
and all, into the clouds by Lacy.