By Any Means Necessary

by Gary Thomas

Overview

The M-Base concept, which never caught on in a big way but did influence the playing of a dozen or so top jazz improvisers, is heard in its prime on this Gary Thomas release. The tenor saxophonist (doubling on flute) meets up with the fiery altoist Greg Osby, keyboardist Geri Allen, keyboardist Tim Murphy, bassist Anthony Cox, drummer Dennis Chambers, percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, and, on some selections, guitarists John Scofield and Mick Goodrick. The music features dense ensembles, simultaneous improvisations, eccentric funk rhythms, and rhythmic but very dissonant horn solos that have a logic of their own. One can think of this noisy date as being an updated extension of Ornette Coleman's Prime Time and is recommended to open-minded listeners who think that nothing new has been played in jazz since the mid-'70s. ~ Scott Yanow

Product Details

Release Date:	04/08/2003
Label:	Jmt
UPC:	0025091903122
Rank:	153749

Tracks

1. By Any Means Necessary
2. Continuum
3. You're Under Arrest
4. Potential Hazard
5. To the Vanishing Point
6. Screen Gem
7. Janala
8. At Risk
9. Out of Harm's Way

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gary Thomas   Primary Artist,Flute,Sax (Tenor),Synthesizer
Dennis Chambers   Guest Artist,Drums
Tim Murphy   Guest Artist,Piano,Synthesizer
Anthony Cox   Guest Artist,Bass (Acoustic)
John Scofield   Guest Artist,Guitar
Nana Vasconcelos   Percussion
Mick Goodrick   Guitar
Geri Allen   Piano,Synthesizer
Greg Osby   Sax (Alto),Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Nana Vasconcelos   Composer
Jeff Lippay   Assistant
Geri Allen   Composer
John Scofield   Composer
Hiroshi Itsuno   Executive Producer
Paul Wickliffe   Engineer
Guenter Mattei   Cover Design
Adrian von Ripka   Engineer,Mastering Engineer
Stefan Winter   Producer,Packaging
Joe Ferla   Engineer
Gary Thomas   Composer
Greg Osby   Composer
Michael Fossenkemper   Assistant