After the Beginning Again

Released in 1992 on the JMT label, 'After the Beginning Again' represents the final chapter of Cassandra Wilson's early experimental period before her commercial and critical explosion with 'Blue Light 'til Dawn'. Recorded with a tight acoustic ensemble including James Weidman and Kevin Bruce Harris, the album showcases Wilson's unique ability to deconstruct standards like 'Summer Wind' and 'Baubles, Bangles and Beads', stripping them of their upbeat origins and reassembling them as somber, minor-key explorations. The record is notable for its 'M-Base' leanings - a collective movement focusing on non-linear rhythmic structures - which gives the tracks a 'busy' but grounded feel. While some critics at the time found the focus slightly scattered, the album has aged as a vital document of Wilson's vocal development, highlighting her move toward the lower register and the 'swampy' atmospheric textures that would soon become her signature. It remains a core piece of early 90s contemporary jazz history.