Listening to the Henry Threadgill Sextet: I bought an lp copy of Henry’s Novus recording, “You Know the Number” with Henry on bass flute, alto and tenor sax, Rasul Sadik on trumpet, Frank lacy on trombone, Diedre
Murray on cello, Fred Hopkins and Pheeroan Aklaff  on basses, and
Reggie Nicholson on percussion.

After listening twice all the way through last night, I re-played
the first track on side 1, “Bermuda Blues” and the last track on side
2, “Those Who Eat Cookies”.

This is one of my favorite Threadgill recordings so far. Besides
having some of my most favorite players on this lp, the compositions
are great and Henry always has the best use of pre-composed and
improvised music to be found anywhere. He uses employs enough varied
rhythmic grroves in the ensemble to make for interesting listening no
matter what styles of music you prefer.

Bermuda Blues starts off almost as if the band members are showing
up one at a time, slowly sauntering in as if to bely the importance of
recording, until it all begins to connect and the proceedings take off.
Not a typical blues, it’s still all about the blues.

I especially enjoy the texture of two basses and cello. And the Frank Lacy solos are a real treat.

It must be some positive connection from the universe that I would
buy this lp at this moment, as I just got finished recording my nine
piece band with two basses and 4 horns - Steve Swell on trombone and
Roy Campbell Jr., on trumpet. You can listen to our latest recording,
released in February on Creative Nation Music and titles, “The Variable
Density Sound Orchestra.”