Wild Flower - Hubert Laws

Mar

22

Wild Flower - Hubert Laws

≡ Category: 1970s, Essential, Post Bop, Reviews |
≅ Written by: Michael Kydonieus

JAZZBO NOTES ESSENTIAL RECORDING

Rating:

Wild Flower is essentially an album of John Murtaugh string arrangements, about half covers, have originals, accompanied by Laws’ flute playing. The arrangements are INCREDIBLY tasty as are the flute solos.

In fact, the arrangements and the solos blend in so perfectly, I strongly suspect that they were composed by Murtaugh and played by Laws (who was an excellent reader and could have easily managed it). This suspicion is increased by the fact that Laws’ solo on “Yoruba” (the only small group improvisation on the record) is by far the weakest solo on the album.

By the way, for those of you who purchase this cd, LISTEN to it before you give it away, thinking that it is easy listening elevator music. I admit, it may be pretty, but musically, it is completely uncompromising. If you don’t believe me, try humming along to the fluto solos. Go ahead, I dare ya.