New True Illusion

Recorded in 1976 and released in 1978 on the Dutch label Timeless, New True Illusion captures Joanne Brackeen at a pivotal moment in her career. Having recently emerged from the groups of Art Blakey and Stan Getz, Brackeen was establishing herself as a formidable leader with a 'personal voice' that drew from McCoy Tyner but pushed into more angular, restless territories. This album is a duo session with bassist Clint Houston, a frequent collaborator known for his melodic strength and rhythmic muscle. The repertoire is a sophisticated mix of originals and covers, including works by Chick Corea ('What Was') and McCoy Tyner ('Search for Peace'), alongside a radical deconstruction of the standard 'My Romance.' Critically, the album is noted for its 'unrooted' delivery, a hallmark of Brackeen's style that avoids predictable cadences in favor of a continuous, searching flow. It stands as a stark, essential entry in her discography, highlighting the structural complexity of her compositions before she transitioned to the more expansive trio and quartet formats of the 1980s.