CONTOURS by SAM RIVERS

The album "contours" of the saxophonist Sam Rivers has been recorded for Blue Note in 1965 following the album "Fuschia swing Song". The musicians joining Sam Rivers (tenor & alto sax and flute) are Herbie Hancock (piano), Ron Carter (bass), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet) and Joe Chanmbers (drums). Four vigourous and strong tracks composed by Sam Rivers : "Point of many returns" with a hard pop structure, "Dance of the Tripedal" and "Euterpe" illustrate the sharp and incisive Sam's style. "Mellifluous Cacophony" is mixing marvellous harmonies with beautiful dissonances. The presence of Sam Rivers' very personal style is key in the structure as well as in the execution of this record session and reminds us the crucial role that Sam Rivers has played in the mid sixties as one of the leaders of the avant guarde. A staggering record just in between avant guarde and tradition in which Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard and Ron Carter are playing music we don't hear on their other records from the same period.