Never Let Me Go Reviews
From France
Romain Grosman, Indispensable Jazz News
Having contracted leukemia in 1998 at the age of forty, Thomas Chapin left [us] too early [to make his mark] on a larger audience. These three discs, recorded live with a quartet in New York at Flushing Town Hall with (the underestimated) Peter Madsen (piano), Kiyoto Fujiwara (bass) and Reggie Nicholson (drums), and at the Knitting Factory with again Peter Madsen, Scott Colley (bass) and Matt Wilson (drums) broadcasts a striking sense of urgency. Urgency in the game; intensity in the leader with the alto saxophone and flute. A student of Jackie McLeanʼs, sideman in Lionel Hamptonʼs (band), one understands that his anchor is in the tradition and modernity (of Monk, Roland Kirk). [He has recorded tracks for] Anthony Braxton; John Zorn; Medeski, Martin & Wood. His phrasing is on _tenterhooks_ [meaning: in a state of suspense or agitation] and constantly connected emotionally to this imperative. Balancing on a wire that burns beneath his feet, Thomas Chapin brings with him his partners in melodic improvisations. His illness diagnosed shortly after, who admitted to “live for music”, unfolds in its final outputs, expressiveness, generosity, beyond which the dazzling technique and stunning creativity, touch the listener deeply.
- translated by Joe and Marie Cardello
Romain Grosman, Indispensable Jazz News
A victim of leukemia at age 40, Thomas Chapin died before his talent could reach a broad audience. These three sides were recorded live in New York -- “in” music at Flushing Town Hall with the underrated pianist Peter Madsen, Kiyoto Fujiwara on bass and Reggie Nicholson on drums, and “out” music at the Knitting Factory with the same Peter Madsen plus Scott Colley and Matt Wilson on drums -- all exuding an engaging spirit of urgency. Urgency in the playing and in the leader on sax and flute. Student of Jackie Maclean and sideman for Lionel Hampton, one hears in him someone anchored in both tradition and modernity (he channels Monk and Roland Kirk). One finds in his discography tracks by Anthony Braxton, John Zorn and Medesky, Martin and Wood. His impatient phrasing is always signifying something, emotionally connected to a grammar of the present imperative. Balancing on a wire that is consumed under his steps, Thomas Chapin takes his sidemen with him on improvisations that are emotional and gripping. His disease diagnosed shortly after these performances, this person who vowed to “live for the music” deploys, in these final outings, an expressiveness and generosity which, beyond dazzling technique, lets loose stunning creativity which profoundly touches the listener.
- translated by Les Caltvedt
Paul Jaillet, Jazzman
Innovation. I have just carried out a quick survey with some buddies [who are] enlightened amateurs: very few truly knew Thomas Chapin. Like other meteoric musicians, this saxophonist and flutist [was], very wrongfully, underrated and died in February 1998, at the age of forty, by leukemia. Restitution of the entire two exclusive concerts captured in New York, in 1995 and 1996, the meeting of these three discs is thus the ideal occasion to rediscover this pupil of Jackie McLean and Kenny Barron who was also first “trigger” [Fr. slang] and director of the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. The sound quality of this material is beautiful and is interesting because it makes it possible to hear Chapin in quartet, accompanied by the very expressive pianist Peter Madsen and [two] superb rhythm sections. These new combos explore, with fresh determination and a wild appetite, new territories. The frayed and biting speech of the leader is always in a hurry; as if he had realized that the Earth was near maturity. These printed partners [ music] revitalize with a furious pace, with very positive aggression and an extremely free imagination, some standards [penned by] Artie Shaw, Monk and Roland Kirk. Let us thank the widow of Thomas Chapin for these publications which opportunely underline the eternal bubbling, musical quality of this wild and free musician.
- translated by Joe and Marie Cardello
Paul Jaillet, Jazzman
I just did a survey of friends who are well-informed jazz fans. Very few of them had heard of Thomas Chapin. Like other musicians with a meteoric rise to the top level of playing, this saxophone and flute player was under-appreciated when he died, at age 40, of leukemia in 1998. These discs are complete concerts that were taped 1995 and 1996, and the putting together of these 3 discs is a great occasion to (re-)discover this student of Jackie Maclean and Kenny Barron, this “top gun” and musical director of the Lionel Hampton band. These documents of excellent sound quality are a great opportunity to hear Thomas Chapin in a quartet which includes the very expressive pianist Peter Madsen and superb rhythm sections. Backed by these new combos, he explores new territory with a new determination and a ferocious appetite. The raspy and biting melodic line of the leader is always delivered with an urgency that makes one wonder if he knew he had little time left before leaving the earthly realm. He imposes on his partners an infernal pace to revitalize, with a positive aggressiveness and a free imagination, several standards of Artie Shaw, Monk, Rashan Roland Kirk. We are all thankful to the widow of Thomas Chapin for bringing out this music which underscores in a timely manner the eternal musicality of this high energy musician who was so wild and free.
- translated by Les Caltvedt