Personnel: David S. Ware (tenor saxophone, kalimba); Joe Morris Orchestra, Joe Morris (guitar, percussion); William Parker (bass instrument); Warren Smith (drums, percussion).
Audio Mixer: Michael Marciano.
Recording information: Systems Two Studio, Brooklyn, NY (05/09/2008).
Tenor sax man David S. Ware is as intrepid a sonic adventurer as ever on SHAKTI, something of an all-star session, with guitarist Joe Morris, bassist William Parker, and drummer Warren Smith. While much of the album finds Ware wailing his heart out in full-on free-jazz improv mode, there's a soulful, spiritual base to both the feeling and the structure of these tracks that finds its roots in a kind of post-Coltrane organic mysticism. Parker winds up providing some of the most memorable counterpoint to Ware when he takes the bow to his bass for some atmospheric legato work, and on "Namah," Ware brings an African flavor to the proceedings by adding a kalimba to the mix. Even after decades of improvisation, Ware still sounds like he's as obsessed by his lifelong adventure as ever on SHAKTI.
Professional Reviews
Down Beat (p.87) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "As with Sonny Rollins, although Ware is an entirely different player, there is an uncompromising individuality to Ware's approach."
JazzTimes (p.86) - "There are times when Ware and Morris play almost sweetly in unison, though the saxophonist does unleash a wee bit of fury before the 18 minutes are up."
Signal To Noise (magazine) (p.69) - "Ware, as usual, has a voice of thunder on his instrument, yet there's great humility in his playing....The three-part 'Shakti' is a devotional offering rather than a sermon."
