# CD review: Paul Austerlitz – Water Prayers for Bass Clarinet: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2019/07/27/cd-review-paul-austerlitz-water-prayers-for-bass-clarinet-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2019-07-27T14:00:52+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**The Jazz history of the bass clarinet has not had a musician like Paul Austerlitz
since the great Eric Dolphy put his remarkable and indelible stamp on that demanding
instrument during his illustrious life as a musician in the bands of Chico Hamilton,
John Coltrane and Charles Mingus. **

And like his legendary ancestor, Mr Austerlitz sees himself not only as a part of
the musical continuum to which he belongs, but by playing “himself” in the strictest
sense of human existence at all times – like the aforementioned musicians – Mr Austerlitz
has brought a lofty humanity to everything he has done so far as a multi-dimensional
artist and pedagogue, from his published writing to his music, and his teaching.

His two books Merengue: Dominican Music and Dominican Identity (Temple University
Press, 1997) and Jazz Consciousness: Music, Race, and Humanity (Wesleyan University
Press, 2005) and seven recordings as leader (including several others as a sideman)
are a testament to his enviable reputation both as an academic and a musician.

None of this would have stood him in good stead were it not for the fact that Mr
Austerlitz is possessed of a deeply spiritual consciousness – something that bears
more than a passing similarity with his illustrious musical ancestry – especially
with those mentioned above. This deep spiritualism is reflected once again in his
2018 release _Water Prayers for Bass Clarinet_, the music of which is rooted once
again in his favourite hunting ground – the Dominican Republic – but broadens out
from there into the music we call Jazz. So singular is Mr Auterlitz’s voice that
his music is, like ‘Trane’s music before him, almost alone in the depth of its spiritual
exploration, venturing at times into the rarefied astral realm that includes other
members of ‘Trane’s Holy Trinity – the incomparable Albert Ayler and Pharoah Sanders.

Mr Austerlitz leads his players on _Water Prayers for Bass Clarinet_ alternating
between bass and contrabass clarinet as well as tenor saxophone (on “Lapriye Djo”).
His playing throughout is an imaginative touchstone for the next generation of players
and composers such as Brian Landrus. Mr Austerlitz’s performance is gorgeous, lustrous
and precise, and his playing is articulated with a glorious and vocal gravitas that
seems to come so naturally to him. His musicianship is fierce as he digs deep into
the expression of each rumbling phrase and line. He is accompanied by players who
are completely attuned to his vision and artistry, and each of them brings a deeply
interiorised reading (of the music) that complements Mr Austerlitz’s execution. 
Although the music that represents the Dominican Republic’s ethnic idiom – such 
as “Legba Nan Baye-A”, “Bara Súwà Yo” and “Lapriyè Djò” – forms the profoundly beautiful
highlights of the recording other repertoire – especially “En-Art” – is also brilliantly
conceived and executed.

_Water Prayers for Bass Clarinet_ like all his recordings before this one is eventful
and eloquent. The music is forceful where it needs to be and touchingly elegiac 
in works such as “Finnish Waltz” and “Padre”. Everywhere on the disc is evidence
of Mr Austerlitz’s dazzling technique on an unforgiving instrument, and without 
ever selling the emotional intensity of the music short, he never overpowers his
spectacular colleagues – pianist Benito González, bassist Santi DeBriano, drummer
Royal Hartigan, clarinetist Isaiah Richardson (who is an exquisite foil to Mr. Austerlitz
on “Funk-Ay-Be-Sea”) and the brilliant vocalist (especially on “Prayer for the Primal
Wind”) Rozna Zila – who in turn realise every colour and expressive import of their
parts in these highly significant works.

**Track list:** 1: Legba Nan Baye-A; 2: Rara Indivisible; 3: Finnish Waltz; 4: Padre;
5: Oriki; 6: En-Art; 7: Bara Súwà Yo; 8: Prayer for the Primal Wind; 9: Funkay-Be-
Sea; 10: Rara Remix; 11: Boot the Boot; 12: Lapriyè Djò

**Personnel:** **Paul Austerlitz:** bass clarinet, contrabass clarinet and tenor
saxophone; **Benito González:** piano; **Santi DeBriano:** contrabass; **Royal Hartigan:**
drum set; **Isaiah Richardson:** clarinet; **Rozna Zila:** vocals.

![Image result for Paul Austerlitz](https://i0.wp.com/www.paulausterlitz.org/Graphics/
Water%20Prayers.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)

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