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"What makes
this music great (yes, great) is its tremendous emotional
content.....this album should not be missed. Recommended!" Richard
B. Kamins CADENCE
"I have
derived much pleasure from this album . . . . . Fell's band has much
of the sheer power and rollercoaster momentum of Tippett's legendary
sextet. It also recalls the contemporary and equally wonderful Chris
McGregor Group . . . . . worth supporting." Barry
Witherden THE WIRE
"The
arrangements, the leader's stunningly propulsive bass and the
generous contribution of Keith Tippett remind one sometimes of the
music of Charles Mingus. Certainly the latter would not have disowned Room
1026"Gustave
Cerutti NOTES
"It's
possible to compare this music unhesitatingly with that of a true
exile, Chris McGregor, and his Brotherhood Of Breath. Also, the
presence of Keith Tippett lifts this album to the same plateau as
those by the pianist's legendary sextet." Philippe
Renaud NOTES
"Persuasion
A was a sextet briefly led by bassist Simon H. Fell in the late
'80s. Listeners only familiar with Fell's experiments in
"xenochronicity," such as Composition
No. 30, might be very surprised at the music here,
though the subtitle, A South African Suite, offers a clue.
Fell clearly steals a page from the expatriate South African
musicians who had called England their home since the early '60s,
musicians like Dudu Pukwana, Mongezi Feza, and Louis Moholo. Free Nelson,
which opens the album, could in fact be straight from the Moholo
songbook: a bouncing, roaring tune with a strong township vibe,
featuring powerful solos from soprano saxophonist Charles Wharf,
pianist Keith Tippett, and Fell. Much of the album careens between
thematic material and freewheeling improv, and treads the boundaries
quite well. Fell, in addition to being a fascinating composer with
tons of unusual ideas, is a ferocious bassist, and he lends a rich
pulse to both sides of the melody/improv coin here. Tippett is also a
joy, and it's a special pleasure to hear him playing in generally
straighter environs than his work with, say, Mujician. The sextet
sounds a wee bit ragged on the slower numbers, but makes up for it on
the barnburners, including the closing reprise of Free Nelson. Two
Steps to Easier Breathing is a solid session that fits
comfortably along with other ventures of the time by British artists
who sought to incorporate the musical richness of South Africa with
their own take on free jazz. Recommended." iTUNES
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