Embrace (Roswell Rudd, Fay Victor, Lafayette Harris, and Ken Filiano album)

Last updated
Embrace
Rudd Victor Harris Filiano Embrace.jpg
Studio album by
Roswell Rudd, Fay Victor, Lafayette Harris, and Ken Filiano
Released2017
StudioPotterville International Sound, Kingston, New York
Genre Jazz
Length1:05:08
Label RareNoiseRecords
RNR085
Producer Verna Gillis
Roswell Rudd chronology
Strength & Power
(2016)
Embrace
(2017)
Roswell Rudd & Duck Baker: Live
(2021)

Embrace is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd, vocalist Fay Victor, pianist Lafayette Harris, and bassist Ken Filiano. It was recorded at Potterville International Sound in Kingston, New York, and was released by RareNoiseRecords in 2017. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Embrace, an album of jazz standards, was released several weeks before Rudd's death in December 2017, and marks his last recorded appearance. [4] [5]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
DownBeat Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [6]
PopMatters Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]

In a review for DownBeat , Fred Bouchard wrote: "At 82, Rudd has been playing these compositions for ages, and his accumulated affection is tangible as barnacles. They're eclectic as Rudd, who embodies a rich confluence of jazz cultures. There are no polished charts, rather rough-cut barroom jams by solid pros exuding gritty experience and slow-smoked passion... Roswell here reminisces on his savory, crunchy career, showing us, with a bearhug, that it's been one swell ride." [6]

Will Layman of PopMatters called the album "a tender, expressive, intimate date," and commented: "Embrace is one of the most delightful and fresh collections of 'jazz' standard performances I have heard in recent years. Each voice is wisened and wry, constitutionally incapable of singing or playing a cliche. If a band is going to take on songs we have often heard before, this is the way to do it: with a few formal innovations and a slew of feeling—both light and heavy." [7]

Writing for Jazz Times , Dan Bilawsky stated: "Embrace is an album that reminds us that Roswell Rudd's slide carried the entire sweep of jazz history in its movements. But it also affirms the very notion of this music as a form of collaborative high art." [4]

Tom Hull included the recording in his list of "best jazz albums of 2017," [8] and remarked: "The trombone isn't exactly lovely, but so full of soul it can't be the work of anyone else." [9]

Point of Departure's John Litweiler noted that Rudd "improvises in a grand manner in the faster pieces, and he really sounds like he's the 21st-century heir to the great swing-era trombone expressionists," whereas in the slower pieces, "even in broken phrases, his quest for melody yields tension." [10]

Raul Da Gama wrote: "This is a glorious disc. Simply glorious. It features Roswell Rudd in a wide, joyous and complete Embrace of life and features beautifully crafted arrangements of beguiling variety and sensuousness, in every caressed phrase. Clearly Roswell Rudd's love for life and music shines brightly." [11]

Track listing

  1. "Something to Live For" (Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington) – 8:22
  2. "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" (Charles Mingus, Rahsaan Roland Kirk) – 6:39
  3. "Can't We Be Friends?" (Paul James, Kay Swift) – 7:46
  4. "I Hadn't Anyone Till You" (Ray Noble) – 7:20
  5. "Too Late Now" (Burton Lane) – 11:34
  6. "The House of the Rising Sun" (Traditional) – 8:17
  7. "I Look in the Mirror" (Verna Gillis) – 4:38
  8. "Pannonica" (Thelonious Monk, Joe Hendricks) – 10:32

Personnel

Related Research Articles

Embrace may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Swell</span> American jazz trombonist, composer, and educator

Steve Swell is an American free jazz trombonist, composer, and educator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Filiano</span> Musical artist

Ken Filiano is an American jazz and orchestral bassist based in Brooklyn, New York.

<i>Trickles</i> 1976 studio album by Steve Lacy

Trickles is the first album by Steve Lacy to be released on the Italian Black Saint label. It features performances of five of Lacy's compositions by Lacy, Roswell Rudd, Kent Carter and Beaver Harris.

<i>Numatik Swing Band</i> 1973 live album by Roswell Rudd & The Jazz Composers Orchestra

Numatik Swing Band is a live album by Roswell Rudd and the Jazz Composer's Orchestra released on the JCOA label in 1973.

<i>Everywhere</i> (Roswell Rudd album) 1967 studio album by Roswell Rudd

Everywhere is an album by American jazz trombonist Roswell Rudd featuring studio performances recorded in July 1966 for the Impulse! label.

<i>Out and About</i> (Steve Swell album) 1996 studio album by Steve Swell

Out and About is an album by American jazz trombonist Steve Swell featuring Roswell Rudd, which was recorded in 1996 and released on CIMP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fay Victor</span> American songwriter

Fay Victor is an American musician, composer, lyricist and educator. Originally a singer in the traditional jazz field, she has been working in jazz, blues, opera, free improvising, avant-garde, modern classical music, and occasional acting since re-settling in New York in 2003.

<i>Keep Your Heart Right</i> 2008 studio album by Roswell Rudd Quartet

Keep Your Heart Right is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd which was recorded and released on the Sunnyside label in 2008.

<i>Roswell Rudd</i> (album) 1971 live album by Roswell Rudd

Roswell Rudd is a live album by the trombonist Roswell Rudd, the first recording under his name. It was recorded in November 1965 in Hilversum, Netherlands, and was released by America Records in 1971. On the album, Rudd is joined by saxophonist John Tchicai, bassist Finn Von Eyben, and drummer Louis Moholo.

<i>The Incredible Honk</i> 2011 studio album by Roswell Rudd

The Incredible Honk is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd. It was released by Sunnyside Records in 2011. On the album, Rudd is joined by guitarist David Doucet, accordion player Jimmy Breaux, pianists Lafayette Harris and Ivan Rubenstein-Gillis, organist Arne Wendt, bassists Mitchell Reed and Richard Hammond, and drummers Aaron Comess and Tommy Alesi.

<i>Airwalkers</i> 2006 studio album by Roswell Rudd and Mark Dresser

Airwalkers is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd and bassist Mark Dresser. It was recorded in August 2004 at Nevessa Studio in Saugerties, New York, and was released by Clean Feed Records in 2006.

<i>Malicool</i> 2002 studio album by Roswell Rudd and Toumani Diabaté

Malicool is an album by American trombonist Roswell Rudd and Malian kora player Toumani Diabaté. It was recorded in January 2001 at Studio Bogolan in Bamako, Mali, and was released by Sunnyside Records in 2002. On the album Rudd and Diabaté are joined by balaphone player Lassana Diabate, ngone player Bassekou Kouyate, guitarist Sayon Sissoko, bassist Henry Schroy, djembe player Sekou Diabate, and vocalists Mamadou Kouyate and Dala Diabate.

<i>Strength & Power</i> 2016 studio album by Roswell Rudd, Jamie Saft, Trevor Dunn, and Balázs Pándi

Strength & Power is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd, pianist Jamie Saft, bassist Trevor Dunn, and drummer Balázs Pándi. It was recorded in July 2014 at Potterville International Sound in Kingston, New York, and was released by RareNoiseRecords in 2016.

<i>Blue Mongol</i> 2005 studio album by Roswell Rudd and The Mongolian Buryat Band

Blue Mongol is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd and the Mongolian Buryat Band, a five-member ensemble led by Mongolian vocalist Badma Khanda, featuring horse-head fiddle and bass, instruments resembling zither, dulcimer, and flute, and a throat singer. It was recorded in 2005 at Nevessa Production in Saugerties, New York, and was released by Sunnyside Records later that year. The album is a continuation of the cross-cultural experiments that Rudd began pursuing with 2002's Malicool.

<i>August Love Song</i> 2016 studio album by Roswell Rudd and Heather Masse

August Love Song is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd and singer Heather Masse. It was recorded in 2016 at Nevessa Production in Woodstock, New York, and was released by Red House Records later that year. On the album, Rudd and Masse are joined by guitarist Rolf Sturm and bassist Mark Helias.

<i>El Espíritu Jíbaro</i> 2007 studio album by Roswell Rudd and Yomo Toro

El Espíritu Jíbaro is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd and cuatro player Yomo Toro. It was recorded during 2002–2006 at various locations, and was released by Sunnyside Records in 2007 as part of their Soundscape Series. On the album, Rudd and Toro are accompanied by drummer, percussionist Bobby Sanabria and his ensemble Ascensión. Sanabria acted also as co-producer with Verna Gillis and arranger. El Espíritu Jíbaro is a continuation of the cross-cultural experiments that Rudd began pursuing with 2002's Malicool and 2005's Blue Mongol.

<i>Broad Strokes</i> 2000 studio album by Roswell Rudd

Broad Strokes is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd. It was recorded during March 1999–January 2000 at various locations, and was released by Knitting Factory Works in 2000. On the album, Rudd appears in a broad range of ensemble contexts, with varying personnel.

<i>Trombone for Lovers</i> 2013 studio album by Roswell Rudd

Trombone for Lovers is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd featuring Rudd playing well-known tunes in a broad range of ensemble contexts, with varying personnel. It was recorded at various locations, and was released by Sunnyside Records in 2013.

<i>Trombone Tribe</i> 2009 studio album by Roswell Rudd

Trombone Tribe is an album by trombonist Roswell Rudd. It was recorded at various locations and was released in 2009 by Sunnyside Records. On the album, Rudd appears in different brass band combinations. On five tracks, Rudd appears in a sextet with trombonists Steve Swell and Deborah Weisz, tubist Bob Stewart, bassist and violinist Henry Grimes, and drummer Barry Altschul, while two tracks feature Rudd with five additional trombones plus Altschul. The remaining tracks include members of the bands Bonerama, Sexmob, and the Gangbé Brass Band of Benin.

References

  1. "Roswell Rudd/Fay Victor/Lafayette Harris/Ken Filiano: Embrace". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  2. "Roswell Rudd/Fay Victor/Lafayette Harris/Ken Filiano: Embrace". AllMusic. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  3. "Embrace". RareNoiseRecords. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Bilawsky, Dan (April 27, 2018). "Roswell Rudd/Fay Victor/Lafayette Harris/Ken Filiano: Embrace (RareNoise)". Jazz Times. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  5. Weideman, Paul (August 16, 2018). "Roswell Rudd's 'Embrace' (RareNoise Records)". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Bouchard, Fred (February 2018). "Roswell Rudd/Fay Victor/Lafayette Harris/Ken Filiano: Embrace". DownBeat. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Layman, Will (December 18, 2017). "Roswell Rudd/Fay Victor/Lafayette Harris/Ken Filiano: Embrace". PopMatters. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  8. Hull, Tom (January 15, 2018). "The Best Jazz Albums of 2017". Clean Feed Records. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  9. Hull, Tom. "The Incredible Honk". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  10. Litweiler, John (June 2022). "Reviews of Recent Recordings". Point of Departure. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  11. Da Gama, Raul (November 1, 2018). "Roswell Rudd, Fay Victor, Lafayette Harris, Ken Filiano: Embrace". JazzdaGama. Retrieved September 2, 2022.