Fierce Silence

Fierce Silence is an album by American jazz drummer Whit Dickey featuring a collection of improvised duos with cornetist Kirk Knuffke. It was recorded in 2015 and released on the Portuguese Clean Feed label. Dickey refers to the album as a “collaborative meditation on the ballad form.”

Fierce Silence
Studio album by Whit Dickey, Kirk Knuffke
Released	2016
Recorded	October 14, 2015
Studio	Park West, Brooklyn
Genre	Jazz
Length	46:09
Label	Clean Feed
Producer	Whit Dickey
Whit Dickey chronology
Emergence (2009) Fierce Silence (2016) Vessel in Orbit (2017)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Down Beat

The Down Beat review by Martin Langley notes "The session marks a significantly restrained and subtle approach from Dickey, when compared with his more turbulent work with Matthew Shipp and David S. Ware."

The All About Jazz by John Sharpe says "Kirk Knuffke's discography suggests a penchant for duets... Certainly the cornetist thrives in such open situations, and Dickey makes for an intriguing partner across the ten concise improvisations." Another review by Mark Corroto states "Knuffke has made a solid reputation recording duets with musicians such as Karl Berger, Brian Drye, Michael Bisio, Jesse Stacken, and Mike Pride. This might be the best of the lot."

The Point of Departure review by Chris Robinson notes "The recording and mastering augments the warmness and immediacy of Knuffke and Dickey’s playing, as each detail is in full relief, from the depth and character of Dickey’s drums and cymbals to the individual shape of Knuffke’s every utterance."

Track listing

All compositions by Whit Dickey and Kirk Knuffke.

1. "The Calling" – 5:38
2. "Fierce Silence" – 3:26
3. "Step Back" – 5:14
4. "Stalker" – 3:57
5. "Lodestar" – 4:31
6. "Quarry" – 3:14
7. "Bone" – 4:45
8. "Legba's Dance" – 5:12
9. "Leave It to the Wind" – 6:59
10. "Ashes" – 3:13

Personnel

• Whit Dickey – drums
• Kirk Knuffke – cornet