Cryptology (album)

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.[1] 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.[2] According to Ware, Cryptology was "a meditation on Coltrane's example of using music as a vehicle for transcendence."[3]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[5]

In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek says about the album "It is raw, unwavering, and intense almost beyond measure."[4] The Penguin Guide to Jazz states that "the long-form, linked improvisations on Cryptology is an impressive first draft."[5]

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".[6]

The Wire placed the album in their "50 Records Of The Year 1995" list.[7]

All compositions by David S. Ware

1. "Solar Passage" – 6:42
2. "Direction: Pleiades" – 9:04
3. "Dinosauria" – 10:03
4. "Cryptology / Theme Stream" – 14:19
5. "Panoramic" – 10:45
6. "The Liberator" – 10:44

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