*2025 stock* First released in 1991, Great Bliss Vol. 1 captures saxophonist David S. Ware at a pivotal moment, crystallizing his towering sound and visionary approach to ensemble improvisation. Joined by pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist William Parker, and drummer Marc Edwards, Ware leads a quartet that would go on to redefine the trajectory of free jazz in the 1990s and beyond.  

This album presents the quartet in full command of their collective language, balancing unfettered exploration with deep structural integrity. Ware’s tenor saxophone surges with spiritual force, while Shipp’s piano provides both turbulence and grounding. Parker’s bass lines carve expansive spaces, and Edwards lends volcanic rhythmic drive. Together, they create music that is at once uncompromising, lyrical, and transcendental.  

With Great Bliss Vol. 1, listeners encounter the first chapter of a profound journey—a document of a band at the threshold of greatness, and of Ware’s relentless quest for ecstatic expression through sound. The music’s intensity is matched by its sense of searching, a testament to Ware’s belief that improvisation is not merely a form but a way of life and spirit.  

More than three decades later, Great Bliss Vol. 1 continues to stand as a testament to courage, freedom, and the power of collective creation. For listeners new to David S. Ware as well as longtime admirers, this release remains an essential experience in the landscape of improvised music.