This review has 2 parts to it: that of Morphine's last studio album The Night and Orchestra Morphine's performances in memory of Mark Sandman. Let me begin with the album:

Morphine's fourth studio album came only a few months after Mark Sandman's tragic death on stage in Italy. The band managed to record and complete it before Mark's untimely passing. It both pains and pleases me to say that The Night is by far the strongest and most mature effort from this fantastic trio, with every song full of passion and depth. It's tragic however, that Sandman never got a chance to reap the pleasures of this CD.

The title track's melody brings forth the early efforts of Leonard Cohen and offers perhaps the smoothest grooviest and most magnetic song I have ever heard. Mark's voice combined with Dan Colley's saxes and Billy Connoway's minimalist drumming actually puts the listener in a trance (sort of like the drug whose name the band carries). Unlike Morphine's earlier efforts, The Night is extremely diverse and varying in styles, ranging from smooth and slow to the bee-bop evocations of Miles Davis' later years. Throughout, however, the album maintains Sandman's signature sound which couldn't be more unique.

Mark played a two-string bass and believed that the less is played, the more thought and feeling gets through the music. Every note that the band hits seems to have deep meaning and the sound seems to reach deep into the listener's soul. However, Mark took some risks on this album and invited some guest musician including the great Jon Medeski (on Top Floor, Bottom Buzzer) and female backup singers. He furthermore experimented with the sounds of the middle east and a slew of other influences.

All of the efforts paid off. The album is as close to perfect as it gets and it is very easy to pop it in and listen to the music over and over again. With Mark's ghost hovering over your shoulder, you will fully grow to appreciate the sounds. Unfortunately (despite the rumors that there is a live album coming out soon), you will never get a chance to see Morphine live again.
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I am from Boston, so I was fortunate enough to see Morphine in concert a few times. They were great, and I always enjoyed the shows, but that is now forever gone. A couple months ago, a few after The Night's release, I was fortunate enough to get a chance to see Orchestra Morphine live. Orchestra Morphine is the remaining members' tribute to Mark and it is dedicated to play his music. It consists of the band's original members Billy Connoway and Jerome Dupree on drums and Dana Colley on the saxes as well as Russ Gershon on sax, Tom Halter on trumpet, Laurie Sargent on vocals, Christian McNeil on vocals, Mike Rivard on bass, and Evan Harriman on keyboards. All these are accomplished Boston-area musicians who took the time out of their schedules to pay tribute to their friend and mentor.

Needless to say, the performance was more than memorable. Although it was only their second or third ever, the band members put in a tremendous amount of passion into it and it was almost as if Mark's spirit inhibited all of them. All 9 are stellar musicians and they managed to combine their talents to form a perfect body of music. Laurie's singing, furthermore, though it was obviously nothing like Mark's, evoked his passion and reinterpreted all his themes beautifully.

The band went through all 11 tracks of The Night as well and some old crowd favorites. Everyone in attendance seemed enamored and gazed open-mouthed at the performers. I have attended hundreds of concerts over the past 6 or 7 years, but this was without a doubt one of the best.

Go buy this album and see the band if you get the chance. If you want my advice on other somewhat similar stuff, get their first album Good as well as Soul Coughing, Addison Groove Project, G Love, and Coltrane, but remember, Mark's music is unique and truly wonderful.



Recommended: Yes