Foundations (album)

Foundations
Foundations
Studio album by Paul F. Murphy and Larry Willis
Released	2009
Recorded	April 8, 2009
Studio	Lion & Fox Recording Studios, Washington, D.C.
Genre	Free jazz
Length	1:07:54
Label	Murphy Records
Producer	Paul Murphy, Larry Willis
Paul F. Murphy chronology

Foundations is an album by drummer Paul F. Murphy and pianist Larry Willis. It was recorded at Lion & Fox Recording Studios in Washington, D.C. in April 2009, and was released later that year by Murphy Records.^[1]^[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
DownBeat	^[3]

In a review for DownBeat, Robert L. Doerschuk wrote: "Murphy and Willis build a complex structure on Foundations through their pairing of piano and drums and the application of their formidable musicianship to the process of invention through total improvisation. Each of these tracks starts from scratch. Absent predetermined themes or chords, the foundation alluded to in the title most likely alludes to the process of conjuring something from nothing... the two musicians... are interacting fully, listening intently and opening themselves to any and every type of possibility."^[3]

Writing for Jazz Times, Lyn Horton commented: "Paul Murphy and... Larry Willis together create music that is quite simply, hefty. Their recording, Foundations, testifies to their persistence in conveying significant improvised, though structured, messages through their musical language... Neither instrumentalist skips a beat. The pair's interaction is tight, unafraid and thoroughly conscious. For music is their calling; it expresses their experience of life."^[4]

A reviewer for Worcester Magazine stated: "It's heady stuff; the type of arty jazz best enjoyed while slumped in the back of a dark club sipping a beer... Without knowing it, Murphy and Willis make a statement here: Foundations is an album to be enjoyed as well as appreciated."^[5]

Track listing

All compositions by Paul F. Murphy and Larry Willis.
Track timings not provided.

"Foundations"
"Epigraph"
"Khafre"
"Peter"
"Morel"
"Mr LB"
"Paean"
"Dance Points"
"East Turn Alt"
"Composite Drive"
"June Jump"
"Equinox"

Personnel

Larry Willis – piano
Paul F. Murphy – drums

References

^ "Paul Murphy and Larry Willis: Foundations". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 23, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^ "Larry Willis discography". JazzLists. Archived from the original on June 27, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Doerschuk, Robert L. (April 2010). "Paul F. Murphy/Larry Willis: Foundations". DownBeat. p. 64.
^ Horton, Lyn (January 26, 2010). "Paul Murphy & Larry Willis: Foundations". Jazz Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
^ "Paul F. Murphy Larry Willis". Worcester Magazine. October 29, 2009. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.

[1] "Paul Murphy and Larry Willis: Foundations". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 23, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2022.

[2] "Larry Willis discography". JazzLists. Archived from the original on June 27, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2022.

[db-3] Doerschuk, Robert L. (April 2010). "Paul F. Murphy/Larry Willis: Foundations". DownBeat. p. 64.

[4] Horton, Lyn (January 26, 2010). "Paul Murphy & Larry Willis: Foundations". Jazz Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2022.

[5] "Paul F. Murphy Larry Willis". Worcester Magazine. October 29, 2009. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.

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v t e Paul Murphy
Years given are for the recording(s), not first release, unless stated otherwise.
Studio albums	Red Snapper: Paul Murphy at CBS (1982) Enarre (2001) Shadow Intersections West (2002)
with Larry Willis	The Powers of Two (2004) The Powers of Two, Volume 2 (2006) Excursions (2007) Exposé (2008) Foundations (2009)
Live albums	Live at Fire in the Valley (with Glenn Spearman and William Parker, 1997)