Big Top (album)

Last updated
Big Top
Big Top Whit Dickey Cover.jpeg
Studio album by
Released2000
RecordedNovember 20, 1999
StudioHillside Sound, Englewood, New Jersey
Genre Jazz
Length52:33
Label Wobbly Rail
Producer Whit Dickey, Mac McCaughan
Whit Dickey chronology
Transonic
(1998)
Big Top
(2000)
Life Cycle
(2001)

Big Top is the second album by American jazz drummer Whit Dickey, which was recorded in 1999 and released on Wobbly Rail, a short-lived imprint started by Merge Records/Superchunk principal Mac McCaughan. [1] For this record, Dickey expanded to a quartet consisting of the trio with whom he recorded Transonic , with the addition of guitarist Joe Morris. They played Eric Dolphy composition "The Prophet", from the album At the Five Spot , and Thelonious Monk's "Skippy". [2]

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes that "the leader can sound hyperactive and unreflective, but there is no mistaking the power of his playing." [3] The JazzTimes review by Peter Margasak states "With Brown's alto saxophone imbued with melancholia, his upper register peregrinations full of piercing sobs, and Morris peeling off skeins of tunefully cascading notes, the rhythm section caresses and prods things along with constant shape-shifting; in particular, Dickey's gentle cymbal play is a marvel of coloristic and rhythmic variety." [4]

Track listing

All compositions by Whit Dickey except as indicated
  1. "Big Top" – 7:58
  2. "The Prophet" (Eric Dolphy) – 11:22
  3. "Skippy" (Thelonious Monk) – 9:53
  4. "The Inmortals" – 23:20

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Dolphy</span> American jazz musician (1928–1964)

Eric Allan Dolphy Jr. was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist and bandleader. Primarily an alto saxophonist, bass clarinetist, and flautist, Dolphy was one of several multi-instrumentalists to gain prominence during the same era. His use of the bass clarinet helped to establish the unconventional instrument within jazz. Dolphy extended the vocabulary and boundaries of the alto saxophone, and was among the earliest significant jazz flute soloists.

<i>Ezz-thetics</i> 1961 studio album by George Russell Sextet

Ezz-thetics is a studio album by the George Russell sextet, released on Riverside Records in mid-1961.

<i>Iron Man</i> (Eric Dolphy album) 1968 studio album by Eric Dolphy

Iron Man is an album by American jazz multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy, recorded in 1963 and released by the Douglas International label in 1968. The album was reissued on disc two of Musical Prophet: The Expanded 1963 New York Studio Sessions, released in 2018 by Resonance Records.

<i>Six Monks Compositions (1987)</i> 1987 studio album by Anthony Braxton

Six Monk's Compositions (1987) is an album by American saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton recorded in 1987 for the Italian Black Saint label. The album features Braxton's interpretations of compositions by Thelonious Monk.

<i>Friendly Fire</i> (Joe Lovano and Greg Osby album) 1998 studio album by Joe Lovano & Greg Osby

Friendly Fire is an album by the American jazz saxophonists Joe Lovano and Greg Osby recorded in 1998 and released on the Blue Note label.

<i>Other Aspects</i> 1987 studio album by Eric Dolphy

Other Aspects is a collection of previously unreleased jazz recordings by Eric Dolphy made in 1960 and 1964, and released first in 1987 by Blue Note Records. The recordings originated with tapes that Dolphy left with composer Hale Smith and his wife Juanita before leaving for Europe in 1964 to tour with Charles Mingus. Years after Dolphy's death, Smith contacted James Newton, who, after reviewing the material, suggested that Smith get in touch with Blue Note. Newton ended up producing the album.

<i>DAO</i> (album) 1996 studio album by David S. Ware

DAO is an album by the American jazz saxophonist David S. Ware, recorded in 1995 and released on Homestead. In contrast with most of the quartet's previous albums, they didn't undergo the usual rigorous rehearsals for the recording, getting into the studio the day after the Oblations and Blessings sessions. DAO was the fifth and last recording by the David S. Ware Quartet with drummer Whit Dickey, who would be replaced by Susie Ibarra.

<i>Youniverse</i> (Rob Brown album) 1992 studio album by Rob Brown

Youniverse is an album by American jazz saxophonist Rob Brown recorded in 1992 and released on the Riti label, operated by free jazz musician and composer Joe Morris. It features a trio with Morris on guitar and Whit Dickey on drums playing six Brown compositions and two collective improvisations. The same lineup would be named Trio Ahxoloxha when they released the album Prophet Moon a decade later under the leadership of Dickey.

<i>High Wire</i> (Rob Brown album) 1996 studio album by Rob Brown

High Wire is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Rob Brown, recorded in 1993 and released on the Italian Soul Note label. It features a trio with bassist William Parker and drummer Jackson Krall playing all original Brown compositions.

<i>Circular Temple</i> 1992 studio album by Matthew Shipp

Circular Temple is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp featuring his trio with bassist William Parker and drummer Whit Dickey, which was recorded in 1990 and released on the tiny label Quinton Records. The album was reissued in 1994 by Infinite Zero, a label founded by Henry Rollins and Rick Rubin to re-release out-of-print records, which was a division of American Recordings, under the umbrella of Warner Bros. Records. It will be reissued on CD and, for the first time, on vinyl in 2023 on ESP-Disk'.

<i>Elsewhere</i> (Joe Morris album) 1996 studio album by Joe Morris

Elsewhere is an album by the American jazz guitarist Joe Morris, recorded in 1996 and released on Homestead. The Joe Morris Ensemble features pianist Matthew Shipp's regular trio with bassist William Parker and drummer Whit Dickey. Morris and Shipp played together once with violinist Mat Maneri in Boston four or five years before.

<i>Transonic</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Whit Dickey

Transonic is the debut album by American jazz drummer Whit Dickey, which was recorded in 1997 and released on AUM Fidelity. For his first record as leader, Dickey went into the studio with long-time associate, saxophonist Rob Brown, and then relative newcomer to the scene, bassist Chris Lightcap. He notes that many of the cuts were inspired by two Thelonious Monk compositions, "Off Minor" & "Criss Cross", along with the magic of tenor saxophonist David S. Ware.

<i>Prophet Moon</i> 2002 live album by Whit Dickey

Prophet Moon is an album by American jazz drummer Whit Dickey recorded live in 2002 at the New York club Roulette and released on the Riti label, operated by free jazz musician Joe Morris. Dickey leads Trio Ahxoloxha, which includes Morris on guitar and Rob Brown on alto sax. The same lineup was originally an ensemble organized by Brown to record the CD Youniverse a decade before and has at various times been led by Morris as well.

<i>Coalescence</i> (Whit Dickey album) 2004 studio album by Whit Dickey

Coalescence is an album by American jazz drummer Whit Dickey recorded in 2003 and released on the Portuguese Clean Feed label. Dickey leads a quartet built around a traditional lineup with Roy Campbell on trumpet, Rob Brown on alto sax and flute and Joe Morris on acoustic bass in place of guitar.

<i>In a Heartbeat</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Whit Dickey

In a Heartbeat is an album by American jazz drummer Whit Dickey recorded in 2004 and released on the Portuguese Clean Feed label. For this record, Dickey expanded to a quintet consisting of the quartet with whom he recorded Big Top, with the addition of trumpeter Roy Campbell. The band plays four Dickey compositions and the Carla Bley original "Calls".

<i>Sacred Ground</i> (Whit Dickey album) 2006 studio album by Whit Dickey

Sacred Ground is an album by American jazz drummer Whit Dickey recorded in 2004 and released on the Portuguese Clean Feed label. Dickey leads a quartet with Roy Campbell on trumpet, Rob Brown on alto sax and Joe Morris on double bass instead of his usual guitar, the same lineup as the previous album Coalescence.

<i>Life Cycle</i> (Whit Dickey album) 2001 studio album by Whit Dickey

Life Cycle is an album by American jazz drummer Whit Dickey recorded in 2000 and released on the Aum Fidelity label. Dickey leads the Nommonsemble, which includes Rob Brown on alto sax and flute, Mat Maneri on viola and Matthew Shipp on piano.

<i>Right Hemisphere</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Right Hemisphere

Right Hemisphere is the album by the free jazz collective quartet consisting of Rob Brown on alto sax, Matthew Shipp on piano, Joe Morris on bass and Whit Dickey on drums. It was recorded in 2006 and released on the French RogueArt label. Right Hemisphere has been in existence since 1984 when Shipp and Brown first arrived in New York. The group originally had as its drummer Frank Bambara and shortly after Dickey replaced him. The trio was joined by bassist William Parker and their first recording Points appeared in 1990 under Shipp's leadership.

<i>Design in Time</i> 1999 studio album by Ken Vandermark

Design in Time is an album by American jazz reedist Ken Vandermark, which was recorded in 1999 and released on Delmark. It was the debut recording by the Sound in Action Trio, which features two drummers: former Sun Ra percussionist Robert Barry and frequent Vandermark collaborator Tim Mulvenna. Most of the tunes are classics written by Ornette Coleman, Thelonious Monk, Sun Ra, Don Cherry and Albert Ayler.

<i>The Complete Uppsala Concert</i> 2005 live album by Eric Dolphy

The Complete Uppsala Concert is a double-CD live album by Eric Dolphy. It was recorded on September 4, 1961, at Västmanlands-Dala Nation, Uppsala, Sweden, and was released by Gambit Records in 2005. The album, which features one original tune plus eight performances of standards, was recorded during Dolphy's second visit to Europe, and showcases local musicians Rony Johansson on piano, Kurt Lindgren on bass, and Rune Carlsson on drums.

References

  1. Whit Dickey at AUM Fidelity
  2. Original Liner Notes by Whit Dickey
  3. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2002). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (6th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 401. ISBN   0140515216.
  4. Big Top review by Peter Margasak at JazzTimes