Embraced

There are many who claim this 1977 live date doesn't (and could never) really work, but screw them. Williams, the early bop pianist whose work had long reflected a gospel influence that allowed her '70s LP (on her own Mary label) to sound contemporary, plays spirituals her way. Taylor, the all-too-human god of free jazz, plays spirituals his way. Use your ears and you'll hear two very complete histories of jazz colliding simultaneously. Let your ear wander between the two and you'll hear a generous (if slightly pedagogical) Democracy of the Ear that band-leaders such as Wynton Marsalis pitifully lack. --D. Strauss

Label: Unknown
Studio: Pablo
Released: 1995-06-15
Format: Audio CD

Extras/Features:
Live, Import