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What
the reviewers say about
Tom Varner: Second Communion
(OmniTone 12102)
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"...the
25-minute reworking of Cherry's landmark suite ...
is glorious, ranging from Varner's tour de force solo
on Complete Communion to the slow-build tension
and guitar skronk of 'Paris Ambulance Song' and the
reprise...." [Read
review]
—James Hale, Down Beat
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"...a
breakthrough, moving well beyond the novelty
facets of the instrument and into the realm of original, deeply
substantive improvisation and composition....
exquisitely well-crafted, gloriously unfettered dialogue
among all the players ... By
any measure, a tour de force."
[Read review]
—Howard Reich, Los Angeles
Times
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"'Don's
Big View' is a brooding, 16-minute opus featuring grungy
guitar and big, smeary ensemble statements; 'Watts
'56' is a great 'portrait' piece.... [Varner
treats] Cherry's material and example with respect
and creativity ... assembling a band that can
update the free-range feel of the 1960s' 'new thing'
for the digital age. And he's given it a fresh
lick of paint by leading from an instrument with a
capacity for surprise and
swing." [Read
review]
—The
Guardian (UK)
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"In
addition to four originals inspired by Cherry, Varner
includes a captivating, full-length update of the 'Complete
Communion' suite..." [Read
review]
—David Adler, All Music
Guide
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**** [of
4] "A brilliant piece
of repertory ... Varner himself has rarely
played with more decision and adventure, pushing
the horn into difficult areas with great skill.
—The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD
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"...a
keenly perceptive tribute ... gleaming sonic characteristics
(OmniTone's manifesto) ... superior artisanship and
forward thinking tactics signify an applied synthesis
that provides the winning edge. Emphatically
recommended..." [Read
review]
—Glenn Astarita, AllAboutJazz.com
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"...joy
and melodic brilliance.... One would imagine
the French horn to have too moody a sound to be ideal
for expressing the happiness implicit in this music,
but in Varner's hands it
generates pure elation." [read
review]
—John Shand, Len Wallis
Audio (Australia)
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"Few
artists have demonstrated a degree of growth and
accomplishment comparable to that documented by Varner's
records in the last twenty years, and —in
particular —by his most recent effort Second
Communion..." [Read
profile]
—Luigi Santosuosso, Jazz'Halo (Belgium)
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"An incredibly
beautiful and heartfelt tribute ... a
superb band.... Half of this fine release
is an inspired version of Don Cherry's masterwork Complete
Communion ... the other half is more great pieces
inspired by and written in the spirit of Don Cherry
by Mr. Varner." [Read
review]
—Downtown
Music Gallery (NY)
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"... one
of the truly outstanding releases during the year.... a
wonderful gift to fans of Cherry or Varner, and will
be of interest to those seeking compelling performances
by an excellent cast of musicians." [Read
review]
—Jay Collins, OneFinalNote.com
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2002 CD
of the Year, Portsmouth
(UK) Jazz
Festival fanzine
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