Cryptology (album)
# Cryptology (album)

Cryptology is an album by jazz saxophonist David S. Ware, recorded in 1994 and released by Homestead Records.

## Background

In fall 1992, Steven Joerg took over as Homestead Records' manager. While he continued the label's indie-rock trajectory, Joerg adopted a radically different vision integrating free jazz on the same label where Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr and Big Black recorded seminal records. Pianist Matthew Shipp, who had a duo record with bassist William Parker on a Texas punk-rock label which had a deal with Homestead's parent company, talked him into signing the David S. Ware Quartet. According to Ware, Cryptology was "a meditation on Coltrane's example of using music as a vehicle for transcendence."

## Reception

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz | |

In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek says about the album "It is raw, unwavering, and intense almost beyond measure." The Penguin Guide to Jazz states that "the long-form, linked improvisations on Cryptology is an impressive first draft."

The album garnered a Lead Review slot in Rolling Stone by David Fricke, who says about the title piece "It's a sharp lesson for anyone who thinks free jazz is just a euphemism for no discipline".

The Wire placed the album in their "50 Records Of The Year 1995" list.

## Track listing

    All compositions by David S. Ware
* "Solar Passage" – 6:42
* "Direction: Pleiades" – 9:04
* "Dinosauria" – 10:03
* "Cryptology / Theme Stream" – 14:19
* "Panoramic" – 10:45
* "The Liberator" – 10:44

## Personnel

* David S. Ware – tenor sax
* Matthew Shipp – piano
* William Parker – bass
* Whit Dickey – drums
