Dumama don't allow no clarinet playin' here

[Joseph K]

I've read the article now. Pretty crummy I have to say. I could have written just as bad an article, except I wouldn't because it would be rubbish, so I guess unless I was getting paid for producing rubbish, I wouldn't write it. I won't deign to going into detail.

[Ian Thumwood]

Picking up on the favourable comments about the Maria Schneider request, I ordered the CD from Artist Share despite the apparently inflated cost. The CD actually comes enclosed in a hardback book enclosing photographs of the landscape which inspired the music along with some 19th century illustrations of birds. All in all, I don't think there can be any grumbles as the whole package is certainly a cut above the usual release but the music is absolutely exceptional. In my opinion, it is the best thing that I have heard her do, the title track with the Messaien influenced piano being worth the money alone. It is a seriously impressive album of orchestration and very much leads on from Gil Evans' arrangements such as "The Barbara Story."

There was a degree of thought on this board a few years back that jazz composition cannot be considered as highly as the improvisatory process . I can see the argument although I do not agree with it. I think "The Thompson Fields" is a staggeringly brilliant album and indicative of what can be achieved in jazz when the quality of the writing is this high. As much as I love Gil's music, I think this album has substantially raised the bar set by the collaborations with Miles Davis. Anyone who love jazz composition should be investigating this record. It is a masterpiece.

[Alyn_Shipton]

Ian I totally agree. It's because I was given the choice of Maria's work by the requester I chose this, I love the album. I have followed her work for years - did her first UK interview (for R3) and have the utmost respect for her.