William Hooker/Sabir Mateen
Dharma
KMB013
 
 (US)  (World) Recorded by unknown live in performance, February 2004 Edited and mastered by Eric Devin, May 2007 Cover illustration by Max Smoot William Hooker photo by John Mori Sabir Mateen photo by Dick Bowman Layout by Eric Devin William Hooker: drums Sabir Mateen: alto, tenor, flute, clarinet 1 Multitudes 2 Acts Of Worth 3 Hermitage 4 Speaking To You 5 One Just Man 6 No Ending 7 Multiple Effects     Recorded in performance in February 2004, this recording documents a rare duo appearance by two of the downtown scene’s most powerful players, William Hooker (drums), and Sabir Mateen (reeds, flute). Fiery and intense, this record can proudly stand behind such classics as Interstellar Space and Adieu Little Man. Original artwork by Maxmilian Smoot, this is the second disc from the first issue of the KMBJazz CD-R series. 250 copies pressed June 2007 Downloadable press sheet (hookermateenpress.doc) (Reviews) Signal To Noise #48, Winter 2008 William Hooker is a boomer (born June 18, 1946 in New Britain, CT) but he remains sonically youthful. Collaborations with Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, DJ Olive and pioneering turntablist Christian Marclay over the past decade or so have touched a lot of stylistic bases. A Neew Yorker since 1974, Hooker has existed on the periphery of the jazz avant-garde. Unable to find a record company interested in his music, he formed the non-profit Reality Unit Concepts and released his first recording in 1978. It should be recalled that Is Eternal Life was a supercharged series of hyperkinetic duos with David Murray and David S. Ware et al. Dharma is likewise an often-volcanic duet project, this time with Sabir Mateen on alto and tenor saxophones, flute and clarinet. The CD-R is obviously a DIY production, with handmade packaging in a limited edition of 250. It doesn’t seem to be any easier to find a compatible label in 2007 than it was in 1978 when one is playing improvisational music that thumbs its nose at categories. Mateen has certainly honed his chops and lungpower to a fine edge with TEST and his other partnerships have produced some exciting music over the past few years. He and Hooker interact in a very organic way on these seven pieces. Hooker has a style and approach all his own when it comes to free drumming. He tends to be heavier on the skins than the brass, with a kick at the low end driving much of the music here. He’s not quite as bottom-heavy as Lou Grassi but is decidedly more gut-shakingly resonant than the splash and sizzle pulse of many open-form percussionists. Mateen is mainly on tenor through the first four segments until the dialogues of “One Just Man” explore some very different sonic territory with clarinet. There plenty of interesting moments throughout the set’s 40 minutes and this disc is recommended to fans of either player. - Bill Barton All About Jazz, October 2007 Drummer William Hooker and saxophonist Sabir Mateen are true experts of free improvisation. Hooker provides general support and yet still pushes the momentum of a song into new directions with jabs and splashes and rolls, a vivacious undercurrent as the snaking lines of Mateen balance that tightrope between melodic invention and timbre-oriented improvisation, brushing in broad strokes with squeaks and squeals that paint in the gaps between his jagged lines. “Hermitage” opens with a pseudo AfroCaribbean beat and “One Just Man” contains extended solo improvs with Mateen on clarinet. Only 250 copies of Dharma were pressed, so it may take a bit of vigilance to find, but it is definitely worth owning for fans of the loft-scene niche of free jazz. - Jake Harper Foxy Digitalis, August 2007 William Hooker is less a name and more like a mountain to those who love free music. His sometimes lyrical, sometimes brutal drumming has grounded many experimental works, initially with David Murray and David S. Ware, and from solo work to a particularly fruitful collaboration wit Lee Ranaldo. Here he works his percussive magic behind Sax/clarinet/flutist Sabir Mateen, who blows furious and subtle on this forty or so minute jam. Recorded in 2004 at CBGB, “Dharma” builds webs of sonic beauty while managing to be contemplative and raucous. Mateen has in the past worked with Cecil Taylor and William Parker, so he knows how to use silence and an economy of notes to enhance the more burning runs. Hooker, as always, seems to be playing lead, but hears every avenue of the melody and improv, and keeps the jam centered. The result is majestic and slightly unnerving, but in the best sense: this is music that takes the listener out of a comfort zone, and propels her toward new ways of thinking and hearing. - Mike Wood Downtown Music Gallery, June 2007 “Featuring William Hooker on drums & Sabir Mateen on alto & Tenors saxes, flute & clarinet. Recorded live in February of 2004. An immensely powerful duo performance from two downtown's best improvisers. A perfect of wits and extremes, well-recorded and with that in-your-face explosive intensity. William Hooker loved the challenge of one-on-one and here he is again kicking Sabir higher and higher. Reaching for the heavens and beyond!” -Bruce Lee Gallanterhttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=charihosid%40hotmail%2ecom&item_name=Hooker%2fMateen%20US&item_number=KMB013%20US&amount=10%2e00&no_shipping=0&no_note=1&currency_code=USD&lc=US&bn=PP%2dBuyNowBF&charset=UTF%2d8https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_xclick&business=charihosid%40hotmail%2ecom&item_name=Hooker%2fMateen%20World&item_number=KMB013%20World&amount=12%2e00&no_shipping=0&no_note=1&currency_code=USD&lc=US&bn=PP%2dBuyNowBF&charset=UTF%2d8KMB013 William Hooker + Sabir Mateen - Dharma_files/hookermateenpress.docshapeimage_2_link_2