| Grass Roots | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Grass Roots | ||||
| Released | 2012 | |||
| Recorded | August 26, 2011 | |||
| Studio | Systems Two, Brooklyn | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 58:54 | |||
| Label | AUM Fidelity | |||
| Producer | Grass Roots, Steven Joerg | |||
| Darius Jones chronology | ||||
| ||||
Grass Roots is the eponymous debut album by the free jazz collective quartet consisting of Sean Conly on bass, Alex Harding on baritone sax, Darius Jones on alto sax and Chad Taylor on drums. It was recorded in 2011 and released on the AUM Fidelity label. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Down Beat |    [2] |
The Down Beat review by Joe Tangari says "The opening minute of Grass Roots is one of the most inviting and warmly joyful introductions I’ve ever heard to an album that deals mostly in free playing." [2]
The All About Jazz review by Mark F. Turner describes the album as "the exceptional debut by a newly formed collective who sound like they've been playing together for decades." [3]
In his review for JazzTimes Mike Shanley notes that "All four of these musicians are involved in several different projects, but hopefully they’ll have opportunities to give this one the priority it deserves." [4]
The Exclaim! review by Bryon Hayes states "A shared ecstasy shines forth in each second of this recording — these guys literally enjoy making music together and demonstrate such a powerful idea through the sounds they produce. What an amazing thing to celebrate." [5]
The Point of Departure review by Troy Collins notes that "Together these four sublimate ego for mutual ideology; each contributes to the writing process, with obvious consideration paid towards maintaining a unified group sound.. Grass Roots conveys the egalitarian nature behind its name with infectious enthusiasm." [6]
AUM Fidelity is an independent record label in New York City primarily devoted to avant-garde jazz artists such as William Parker, Matthew Shipp, and David S. Ware. It has also released recordings by improvisational rock band Shrimp Boat and exclusively distributes the CaseQuarter and Riti labels. It was founded in 1997 by former Homestead Records label manager Steven Joerg.
Edward "Kidd" Jordan was an American jazz saxophonist and music educator from New Orleans, Louisiana. He taught at Southern University at New Orleans from 1974 to 2006.
This Is How I Feel About Jazz is a 1957 album by American musician Quincy Jones, his first full-length album as a bandleader after a recording debut with the 1955 split album Jazz Abroad.
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. 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".
Sunrise in the Tone World is an album by American jazz double bassist William Parker, which was recorded live in 1995 and released on the AUM Fidelity label.
I Plan to Stay a Believer is a double live album by American jazz bassist William Parker, which was recorded between 2001 and 2008 and released on the AUM Fidelity label.
Mayor of Punkville is a double live album by American jazz bassist William Parker and his Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra, which was recorded at Tonic in New York City in 1999 and released on the AUM Fidelity label.
Essence of Ellington is a double live album by bassist and composer William Parker's Orchestra, which was recorded in Italy in 2012 and released on the Centering label. The album features new arrangements of songs written by or associated with Duke Ellington in addition to new songs by Parker.
Planetary Unknown is an album by saxophonist David S. Ware which was recorded in 2010 and released on the AUM Fidelity label.
17 Musicians in Search of a Sound: Darfur is a live album by American jazz trumpeter Bill Dixon. The project, a tour de force of orchestral composition, conduction and improvisational exploration, was specially commissioned by Arts for Art, recorded at the 2007 Vision Festival and released on AUM Fidelity.
Wildlife is an album by American jazz musician Joe Morris, which was recorded in 2008 and released on the AUM Fidelity label. It was the debut recording by a new group featuring saxophonist Petr Cancura and drummer Luther Gray. Morris plays bass instead of guitar.
Today on Earth is an album by American jazz guitarist Joe Morris, which was recorded in 2009 and released on the AUM Fidelity label. It was the second recording after Beautiful Existence by his quartet with alto saxophonist Jim Hobbs, bassist Timo Shanko and drummer Luther Gray.
The Beautiful is the second album and the first studio recording by Triptych Myth, a trio consisting of Cooper-Moore on piano, Tom Abbs on bass and Chad Taylor on drums. It was recorded in 2005 and released on the AUM Fidelity label. "Frida K. The Beautiful" is dedicated to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. "Pooch" is dedicated to bassist Wilber Morris.
Darius Jones is an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer.
Man'ish Boy is the debut album by American jazz saxophonist Darius Jones, which was recorded in 2009 and released on the AUM Fidelity label. The cover art is a three-piece commission by Randal Wilcox entitled Portrait of a Man'ish Boy.
Big Gurl (Smell My Dream) is an album by American jazz saxophonist Darius Jones, which was recorded in 2011 and released on the AUM Fidelity label. Big Gurl is a new character in the Man'ish Boy universe created by Jones and graphic artist Randal Wilcox.
Cosmic Lieder is an album by American jazz saxophonist Darius Jones and pianist Matthew Shipp, which was recorded in 2010 and released on the AUM Fidelity label. This 13-part song cycle was the first collaboration between Jones and Shipp.
Book of Mæ'bul is an album by American jazz saxophonist Darius Jones, which was recorded in 2011 and released on the AUM Fidelity label. Book of the Mæ'bul is the third chapter in the Man'ish Boy series created by Jones and graphic artist Randal Wilcox. The album features his working quartet with pianist Matt Mitchell, bassist Trevor Dunn and drummer Ches Smith.
The Darkseid Recital is an album by American jazz saxophonist Darius Jones and pianist Matthew Shipp, which was recorded live between 2011 and 2013 and released on the AUM Fidelity label. It was their second duo following Cosmic Lieder. The record is named for the character Darkseid created by comic artist Jack Kirby, and song titles reference concepts and characters from Kirby's New Gods series and other DC Comics.
Chad Taylor is an American drummer, percussionist, and composer. Taylor leads both the Chad Taylor Trio with Brian Settles and Neil Podgurski and Circle Down with Angelica Sanchez and Chris Lightcap. He is a founding member of the Chicago Underground along with Jeff Parker and Rob Mazurek. In 2024, he was selected to lead the University of Pittsburgh's Jazz Studies Program while holding the university's William S. Dietrich II Endowed Chair in Jazz Studies.