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Release Date: 21 November 2025
Label: Red Records
Packaging Type: Digipak
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 8054154650934
Genres: Jazz
Description
'Perpetual Groove' is one of saxophonist Bobby Watson's earliest dates as a leader and his first of several recordings for Red Records. Recorded live at the Scimmie Jazz Club in Milan over two nights, these 1983 performances followed his departure from Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers as the band's music director and saxophonist.
Supported by an all-Italian trio of top-flight players, Watson delivers exemplary and powerful renditions of Ray Noble's 'Cherokee', John Coltrane's 'Mr. C', Sonny Rollin's 'Oleo', Dizzy Gillespie's 'Blue 'N' Boogie', and Watson's own original composition and album's title, 'Perpetual Groove'.
This is an important record because it vividly and effectively captures a specific moment in the history of jazz. We are at the beginning of the 80s; jazz is experiencing new transformations; a fluid period in which not only its expressive intentions but also its audience are changing.
The rhythmic intensity that pervades the entire album certainly evokes the spasmodic struggle for life of bebop, but also of a much more contemporary world. And then, most important, there is the embrace with the European musical spirit.
Bobby Watson: alto saxophone
Piero Bassini: piano
Attilio Zanchi: bass
Gianpiero Prina: drums
Scimmie Milano, Italy, November 1983
Tracklisting
Art Pepper
Gato Barbieri
Gato Barbieri
Johnny Dyani
Joe Henderson
Gerry Mulligan
Nexus
Cedar Walton Trio
Bobby Watson Quartet
Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson
Bobby Watson
