Roscoe Mitchell Quartet
| Roscoe Mitchell Quartet | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | 1976 | |||
| Recorded | October 4 & 5, 1975 | |||
| Venue | A Space, Toronto | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 42:13 63:45 (Delmark reissue) | |||
| Label | Sackville | |||
| Producer | Onari Productions | |||
| Roscoe Mitchell chronology | ||||
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Roscoe Mitchell Quartet is an album by American jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell recorded in 1975 and released on the Canadian Sackville label.
Background
[edit]The album documents a two nights performance promoted by saxophonist and journalist Bill Smith, co-founder of Sackville Records, at A Space, an artist-run gallery in downtown Toronto.[1] The quartet is a chamber-like ensemble composed of Mitchell, pianist Muhal Richard Abrams, co-founder of the AACM, trombonist George E. Lewis, a 23-year-old in his debut recording, and Detroit-native guitarist Spencer Barefield.
Mitchell is strongly associated with the influence of "classical" avant-garde, both European and American. If the Art Ensemble of Chicago formed a key part of Mitchell's expression, this band and later versions of their Sound Ensemble would permit him to emphasize the purely sonic interest of his earlier work.[2]
Music
[edit]Mitchell recorded the piece "Tnoona" previously with the Art Ensemble of Chicago in 1973 for the Fanfare for the Warriors album, where Abrams was also present. "Music For Trombone & B Flat Soprano" is a duo credited to Lewis. "Cards", a piece in which each player is given six cards with musical notation that can be arranged in any order and any tempo,[3] demonstrates Mitchell's interest in chance procedures and the radical dismantling of form in the manner of John Cage. "Olobo" is performed as a trombone solo by Lewis.[2]
In 2013 Delmark Records, which purchased the catalog of the Sackville label, reissued the album under the title Live at "A Space" 1975 augmented with 20 minutes of previously unissued material.[4] The four bonus tracks include a reading of John Coltrane's classic ballad Naima with an extensive prelude, and a short ensemble version of his signature piece "Nonaah", which Mitchell originally wrote as a solo saxophone before the Art Ensemble played it also for Fanfare for the Warriors.
Reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [6] |
In his review for AllMusic, Brian Olewnick states about the original album "Roscoe Mitchell Quartet is a long-neglected minor classic and well worth hearing"[5] The All About Jazz review by Hrayr Attarian says about the Delmark reissue that "listening to this exquisite disc is, without a doubt, demanding but it is also a rewarding and thrilling aural and intellectual ride."[7]
Track listing
[edit]- All compositions by Roscoe Mitchell except as indicated
- "Tnoona" - 6:46
- "Music for Trombone & B Flat Soprano" (George E. Lewis) - 14:34
- "Cards" - 9:58
- "Olobo" - 9:38
Live at "A Space" 1975 (Delmark CD reissue)
- "Prelude to Naima" - 9:00
- "Naima" (John Coltrane)- 2:29
- "Tnoona" - 6:46
- "Music for Trombone & B Flat Soprano" (George E. Lewis) - 14:34
- "Cards" - 9:58
- "Olobo" - 9:38
- "Dastura" - 5:55
- "Nonaah" - 2:12
Personnel
[edit]- Roscoe Mitchell - B flat soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax
- Muhal Richard Abrams - piano
- George E. Lewis - trombone
- Spencer Barefield - guitar
References
[edit]- ^ Conrad, Thomas. Live at "A Space" 1975 review at JazzTimes
- ^ a b CD edition liner notes by Stuart Broomer
- ^ Allen, Clifford. Live at "A Space" 1975 review at Point of Departure
- ^ Delmark salvages a classic album from Roscoe Mitchell at Chicago Reader
- ^ a b Olewnick, Brian. Roscoe Mitchell – Quartet: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
- ^ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 142. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
- ^ Attarian, Hrayr. Live at "A Space" 1975 review at All About Jazz
