Mujician was formed in 1988 after its four protagonists played a gig together on 11 July that year. So impressed were they with that concert that they made it an ongoing, leaderless project. The quartet’s name was derived from Keith Tippett’s small daughter Inca mispronouncing musician as Mujician. Tippett immediately recognised the apposite contraction of musician with magician and that moniker stuck.
Mujician was renowned for its free-blowing stance. This approach was perhaps partially inspired by Tippett’s pioneering role in this genre for over half a century, starting with his two entirely free albums Blueprint (RCA Victor, 1972) and Ovary Lodge (RCA Victor, 1973). But Mujician did occasionally perform pre-written compositions, none more so than the live album with The Georgian Ensemble, The Bristol Concert (What Disc!, 2000).
The music found on this CD originated from a short tour celebrating Tony Levin’s 70th birthday. During these dates the group recorded the album at the University of Bristol’s Music Studios on 10 October 2010.
Whilst 10 10 10 is entirely improvised, the two lengthy tracks are remarkably cohesive. The title track opens with rumbustious drums and piano but Paul Dunmall swiftly joins the proceedings, gradually building the tension with stentorian tenor saxophone. The majority of the second half of the track is considerably less volatile with Dunmall now on soprano aside from a short-ish crescendo towards the end of the number.
A repeated rhythmic vamp set-up by Paul Rogers and Levin midway through Remember is followed by Tippett’s florid lines interplaying delicately with Roger’s arco bass and Paul Dunmall first on soprano and finally subtle bagpipes. As with all of Mujician’s oeuvre, this is wholly engaging and yes, magical music.
Tragically, Levin died barely four months later, on 3 February 2011, having just turned 71 the month before. Tippett died on 14 June 2020 at the age of 72. The departure of both men left a gaping and irreplaceable hole in the world of improvising jazz.
Discography
10 10 10; Remember (56.08)
Keith Tippett (p); Paul Dunmall (ss, ts, bagpipes); Paul Roger (b); Tony Levin (d). Bristol, 10 October, 2010.
Cuneiform Rune 492
