Turtle シュリスペイロフ

This release continued Abbey Lincoln's '90s resurgence. As with her preceding Verve releases, A TURTLE'S DREAM features notable guest musicians (including Pat Metheny, Kenny Baron, and Lucky Peterson), all of whom add grace to the proceedings. Her core backing trio comprises Rodney Kendrick on piano, Charlie Haden on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums. The set features primarily her originals, along with a pair of covers, including Eben Ahbez's "Nature Boy." The opening song, "Throw It Away," has a melancholy resonance that is utterly inviting as Lincoln pours herself into the lyrics with deep passion and subtle dramatics. The addition of a string section on a couple of numbers–especially "Down Here Below"–makes for some elegant blues.

Turtle Island String Quartet is funked up, cooled down, turned asunder, "rhythmatized" jazz played by a string quartet that goes way beyond the intellectual restrictions placed on the string quartet. Turtle Island String Quartet blows away any staid notions about the violin and cello on Thelonius Monk's "Who Do You Think We Are?," the album's title cut and the piece that sets the stage for musical acrobatics. Even Jimi Hendrix's "Gypsy Eyes" is fair game for the group's new musical tricks.