Steve Lacy

"This "jam opera", to use Lacy's term, is one of the most demanding undertakings of a risk-strewn career. It is based on the haunting, harrowing poetry of exiled Bangladesh poet, Taslima Nasrin, who, like Salman Rushdie, lives under threats of death issued by Moslem fundamentalists offended by her "blasphemous" writings. Lacy and Nasrin were both artists in residence for a year in Berlin at the behest of the German government, whose elaborate (and very necessary) security measures made Nasrin a virtual house prisoner. Lacy was moved to formulate a piece involving Nasrin's texts, Irene Aebi's vocals, and music by a unique sextet featuring Tina Wrase, soprano, sopranino, and bass clarinet, Petia Kaufman, harpsichord, Cathrin Pfeifer, accordion, Jean-Jacques Avenael, bass, and Daniel Gioia, percussion.  This was not conceived as comfortable music and it isn't. But it succeeds in everything it sets out to do, and looking at some of life's disagreeable truths is part of that. The Cry is an impressive accomplishment by all concerned."

(source: JazzTimes, D. Baker)