Fulton Street Maul
| Fulton Street Maul | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Gary Lucas | |||
| Tim Berne chronology | ||||
| ||||
Fulton Street Maul is an album by the American saxophonist Tim Berne, released in 1987.[1][2] It was his first album for a major label; he was working at Tower Records when Columbia Records decided to sign him.[3][4] He supported the album with a North American tour.[5] Fulton Street Maul was reissued in 1996.[6]
Production
[edit]Fulton Street Maul was produced by Gary Lucas, a childhood friend who helped Berne get his Columbia deal.[7][8] It was only the second time Berne had recorded an album using multiple tracks.[9] Berne was backed by cellist Hank Roberts, percussionist Alex Cline, and guitarist Bill Frisell.[10] He was influenced primarily by Julius Hemphill and Eric Dolphy.[11] The group limited their solos, preferring to stick to arrangements.[12] "Federico" is an homage to Federico Fellini.[13] The album cover art was created by Steve Byram, who went on to design several other Berne album covers.[9]
Critical reception
[edit]
The New York Times called "Betsy" "a character study [that] involves eerie floating sounds; an elegiac tune; a static, echoic section using high overtones like Stockhausen's Stimmung, and a vaguely Arabian-sounding modal tune, wending its way into the distance"; the paper later included Fulton Street Maul on its list of the 10 best albums of 1987.[13][19] The Chicago Sun-Times said that the album alternates "between shard-like soloing and seductive electronics, irreverent wit and genuinely gripping emotion".[10]
The Sun Sentinel labeled Fulton Street Maul "an imaginative album that is rarely subtle, generally overpowering and often strange."[20] The Washington Post concluded that "Berne often extends blues and bop themes and writes in a manner that strongly suggests the influence of Ornette Coleman... [yet] his compositions are coherent and thought-out."[21] The Philadelphia Inquirer noted the "rigorous, as-it-happens jazz philosophy."[18] The Plain Dealer dismissed the album as "unfocused, pompous, definitely yuppie-oriented".[22]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Unknown Disaster" | |
| 2. | "Icicles Revisited" | |
| 3. | "Miniature" | |
| 4. | "Federico" | |
| 5. | "Betsy" |
References
[edit]- ^ Santoro, Gene (1994). Dancing in Your Head: Jazz, Blues, Rock, and Beyond. Oxford University Press. p. 271.
- ^ Cordle, Owen (February 22, 1987). "Off the Record". The News & Observer. p. 8E.
- ^ Johnson, Martin (November 21, 1986). "Two Jazz Sounds Beyond Avant-Garde". Weekend. Newsday. p. 17.
- ^ "Rare Treasures". The Buffalo News. April 14, 2000. p. G2.
- ^ Habich, John (April 3, 1987). "Sooner or later, Berne's talent is recognized". Minneapolis Star and Tribune. p. 3C.
- ^ Macnie, Jim (July 27, 1996). "High-Vis Artists". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 30. p. 36.
- ^ Keepnews, Peter (December 6, 1986). "Blue Notes". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 49. p. 63.
- ^ Shteamer, Hank (October 16, 2024). "Let Him Play with Friends in a Bar". The New York Times. p. C1.
- ^ a b Tesser, Neil (Fall 2017). "Any Way the Wind Blows". Jazziz. pp. 64–71.
- ^ a b c Sachs, Lloyd (February 26, 1987). "An ear-grabbing LP...". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 2.70.
- ^ a b Smith, Will (April 26, 1987). "Jazz Sounds". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 12.
- ^ a b Kelp, Larry (April 5, 1987). "Jazz". Calendar. Oakland Tribune. p. 17.
- ^ a b Pareles, Jon (February 18, 1987). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C21.
- ^ "Fulton Street Maul Review by Scott Yanow". AllMusic. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
- ^ MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 107.
- ^ The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books. 2004. p. 139.
- ^ a b Davis, Francis (February 20, 1987). "Albums". Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 26.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (December 27, 1987). "For Rock, Serious Issues and Roots Revivals". The New York Times. p. H27.
- ^ Wissink, Stephen (May 10, 1987). "The Challenge of Innovation". Sun Sentinel. p. 2F.
- ^ Joyce, Mike (September 18, 1987). "Helias & Berne Band Together". The Washington Post. p. N22.
- ^ Colombi Jr., Chris (April 10, 1987). "All That Jazz". Friday!. The Plain Dealer. p. 23.