Eberhard Weber's Yellow Fields band (minus Jon Christensen, who presumably had a hundred other ECM sessions to attend) coalesced into Colours in the late 70s. They produced two albums under this moniker, of which Silent Feet was the first (the other's coming up next week). John Marshall was now on the drum stool, laying down a neat mid-tempo shuffle for Weber, Charlie Mariano and Rainer Brüninghaus to move around in on the great 18-minute opener, Seriously Deep. Mariano's solos are a particular standout on this memorable epic of jazz-prog.
The two remaining tracks are 12 minutes apiece, with the title track starting out as a meditative feature for Weber and Brüninghaus, before Marshall kicks it into gear for the album's most joyously upbeat stretch. Eyes That Can See In The Dark then establishes a suitably nocturnal atmosphere, with subtle percussion and Mariano's wood flute. After a few minutes of this static ambience, Marshall and Brüninghaus take it into the home stretch, including a gorgeous piano spotlight for the latter and more of Mariano stretching out. The legendary bassist-composer of course provides the supple joints for the whole body of Colours to move as one.
"...and to the cat he has given silent feet and eyes that can see in the dark"
- Richard Adams, Watership Down, Chapter 6: The Story of the Blessing of El-ahrairah
pw: sgtg
Eberhard Weber at SGTG:
Yellow Fields (link also includes Jan Garbarek's Paths, Prints feat. Weber)
Ralph Towner's Solstice: Sound & Shadows
Pat Metheny's Watercolors
This is a seriously brill album - all the colours albums are great - and all are nicely presented by ECM as a (budget-priced) boxed set.
ReplyDeletePlease consider forking out some of your lucre and actually buying the albums after sampling them on here. Weber's health hasn't been great of late.
Very grateful for the Eberhard Weber. I first heard "Colours of Chloe" on this site and I've been hooked ever since. And, yes, I have purchased albums when I've found them. Four at this point.
ReplyDeleteA long time favorite, perhaps my favorite Weber album. Thanks Alan.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much!
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