Two tracks from Charlie Rouse's Two Is One album on Strata East from 1974. Both of them are dark & hulking bad news heavyweights that bulldoze you into their groove. Hopscotch is the lighter of the two but still conjures the tension of narcotic-induced insomnia. Two is One goes further. A nagging opening of over 5 minutes, in all kinds of times, gets you all wound up before a signature Strata East shimmery breakdown. Then things really start to rock with unrelenting incessant bass work and bluesy guitar taking over from Rouse's distinctive tenor.
Charles Rouse - Hopscotch
Charles Rouse - Two Is One
dont have many albums from the strata east catalogue so this is a nice way to check out the label's sounds and philosophy.
ReplyDeletemany thanks for these.
a real beauty groover,when i first came across this lp i wondered how could this work,hard bop tenorist
ReplyDeleterouse with his breathy tone combining with the heavy rep of strata east,and with piano being replaced by electric guitar,but it does work very well,thanks again.