Insanely great free improvisation for the West Coast in this quartet of Vinny Golia (multi-reeds), Marco Eneidi (alto sax) Lisa Mezzacappa (bass), and Vijay Anderson (drums).
"I first met Marco Eniedi in the late 1990′s .. who can remember where? His American Jungle Orchestra had made a big impression on the new music scene in the SF Bay Area and we all knew that Marco had been collaborating with Cecil Taylor and had studied with the late, great, irreplaceable Jimmy Lyons. One night we were checking out a show and he asked me if i would like to join his large ensemble. I agreed without hesitation.
Marco's studies with Taylor and Lyons were evident at the first rehearsal. In those days he was using Cecil's notation system, but what he really had a knack for was setting up events where brilliant musical episodes would unfold. After a few performances, Marco scheduled a month-long residency at Venue 9, and invited some cream-of-the-crop improvisers as guest artists (Wadada Leo Smith, Jackson Krall, Bertram Turetsky, and more) to join the orchestra for a series of concerts. In addition to the outstanding guest artists, Marco featured the late great Glenn Spearman, myself and members of the ROVA Saxophone Quartet in the reed section. These live sessions were released on a 2-disc set on the Boticelli label. If you haven't had the pleasure of listening to this great release, suffice to say that the playing and the combinations he inspired always transcended the notes on the page. This is the sign of a great bandleader.
This says nothing about Marco's brilliant work as a saxophonist. Sure, he comes out of the traditions set in motion by Jimmy Lyons, but in recent years in particular he has transcended his influences completely and sounds like no one else but Marco Eniedi. He has reached a level of maturity that few have approached, and he is currently playing at the height of his powers. Marco left the United States a few years ago and has been living in Vienna Austria - a thriving center for music since the days of Haydn and Mozart. The music is still alive in Vienna, there are countless examples, and Marco is a force of nature on that scene.
All this to say you would do yourself a great service if you make it out to hear Marco surrounded by an outstanding cast of improvisers - Vinny Golia, Lisa Mezzacappa, Vijay Anderson. If you want to know what free jazz sounds like when it is in its highest form, look no further. The music is alive and well and Marco remains at the forefront of the music."-Phillip Greenlief, In The Flow 12