''X Man'' is an album by drummer Andrew Cyrille. It was recorded in May 1993 at

Sear Sound Walter Edmond Sear (27 April 1930 – 29 April 2010) was an American recording engineer, musician, instrument importer and designer, inventor, composer and film producer. He was considered a pioneer in the use of the synthesizer and an exper ...

in New York City, and was released by

Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...

in 1994. On the album, Cyrille is joined by flutist

James Newton James W. Newton (born May 1, 1953) is an American jazz and classical flutist. Biography He was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. From his earliest years, James Newton grew up immersed in the sounds of African-American music, inclu ...

, guitarist Alix Pascal, and bassist Anthony Cox.

Reception

In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow wrote: "Considering the musicians who are involved, it is often surprising how gentle and melodic this music is. Guitarist Alix Pascal is a new voice with a quiet sound, while flutist James Newton, bassist Anthony Cox, and drummer Andrew Cyrille have long been known for their versatility, open-minded approach to improvising, and high musicianship. Each player contributed two songs apiece, and the soloing is pretty democratic, with each musician having their opportunity to shine both as a soloist and in the ensembles. This is a subtle set that grows more interesting with each listen." The authors of '' The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' awarded the album 3½ stars, and commented: "Flute and guitar add a new spectrum to ''X Man'', one that seems closer to Cyrille's basic understanding of melody. Newton's 'E-Squat' is a strong, clearly stated idea from a player who seems to understand Cyrille's intentions from the bottom up, and the drummer responds with some of his simplest and least cluttered playing on record. 'Simple Melody' is extraordinary, something out of a far-off place that yet seems as familiar and immediate as the most overworked standard."

Track listing

# "Answer Me" (Pascal) – 6:09 # "Novo" (Cox) – 5:46 # "A Simple Melody" (Cyrille) – 5:03 # "E - Squat" (Newton) – 5:44 # "5:05" (Cox) – 17:29 # "Lydia" (Pascal) – 7:02 # "X Man" (Newton) – 9:40 # "Akan" (Cyrille) – 4:07

Personnel

* Andrew Cyrille – drums *

– flute * Alix Pascal – guitar (tracks 1, 3, 6, and 8) * Anthony Cox – bass

References

{{Reflist 1994 albums Andrew Cyrille albums