| Illusions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1980 | |||
| Recorded | April–May 1980 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 36:09 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Jim Fishel & Arthur Blythe | |||
| Arthur Blythe chronology | ||||
| ||||
Illusions is jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe's third album for the Columbia label, recorded in New York City in 1980.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [2] |
From contemporary reviews, Robert Palmer placed the album at fifth place in his best of 1980 list for the New York Times , proclaiming Blythe to be a "formidable alto saxophonist" and that the funk tunes on the album "proved that substantial yet danceable jazz isn't an impossible dream." [3]
From retrospective reviews, Scott Yanow of AllMusic states that "the distinctive alto of Blythe is heard in top form on six of his unusual originals ... It's recommended." [1]
Arthur Murray Blythe was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer. He was described by critic Chris Kelsey as displaying "one of the most easily recognizable alto sax sounds in jazz, big and round, with a fast, wide vibrato and an aggressive, precise manner of phrasing" and furthermore as straddling the avant garde and traditionalist jazz, often with bands featuring unusual instrumentation.
Vertigo is an album by American saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded in 1962 and 1963 but not released on the Blue Note label until 1980. The initial release contained only the five tracks from 1963, while the later 2000 limited CD edition, released as part of the "Connoisseur Series", added six tracks from a 1962 session originally marked for release as Jackie McLean Quintet, first issued in 1978 as part of a double LP entitled Hipnosis.
Asante is an album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner released on the Blue Note label. It was recorded in 1970 and features performances by Tyner with alto saxophonist Andrew White, guitarist Ted Dunbar, bassist Buster Williams, drummer Billy Hart, percussionist Mtume and vocalist "Songai" Sandra Smith appearing on two tracks.
The Greeting is a 1978 live album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner, his thirteenth release on the Milestone label. It was recorded in March 1978 at the Great American Music Hall and features performances by Tyner with a sextet featuring tenor saxophonist George Adams, alto saxophonist Joe Ford, bassist Charles Fambrough, drummer Woody Theus and percussionist Guilherme Franco. Tyner’s performance of John Coltrane's "Naima" is a piano solo.
Quartets 4 X 4 is a 1980 album by jazz pianist McCoy Tyner released on the Milestone label. It was recorded in March and May 1980 by Tyner with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Al Foster and featuring trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, guitarist John Abercrombie, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe, each for one side of the original double LP. The album was digitally remastered and first issued on a single CD in 1993.
Special Edition is an album by drummer and pianist Jack DeJohnette featuring tenor saxophonist David Murray, alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe and bassist and cellist Slip Warren recorded in 1979 released on the ECM label in 1980. The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states, "The first of Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition ensembles offered a sound that in many ways was revolutionary in modern contemporary and creative improvised music circa 1980... This CD deserves a definitive five-star rating for the lofty place it commands in the evolution of jazz headed toward new heights and horizons". A JazzTimes reviewer selected it in 2012 as one of DeJohnette's key albums.
Metamorphosis is a live album by jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe which was recorded at the Brook, New York City in 1977 and released in 1979 on the India Navigation label. The album was released on CD as a compilation with The Grip which was recorded at the same concert.
The Grip is a live debut album by jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe which was recorded at the Brook, New York City in 1977 and released on the India Navigation label. The album was released on CD as a compilation with Metamorphosis which was recorded at the same concert.
Bush Baby is an album by jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe which was recorded in December 1977 and released in 1978 on the Adelphi label.
In the Tradition is jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe's first album for the Columbia label recorded in New York City in 1978.
Blythe Spirit is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe. It was his fourth album for the Columbia label, recorded in New York City in 1981.
Elaborations is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe, released in 1982.
Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk is jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe's sixth album for the Columbia label, recorded in New York City in 1983. The album features Blythe's quintet performing compositions by Thelonious Monk.
Broken Shadows is an album by the American jazz saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman recorded in 1971, at the same sessions that produced Science Fiction, but not released on the Columbia label until 1982.
New York, Fall 1974 is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Anthony Braxton, recorded in 1974 and released on the Arista label. The album was subsequently included on The Complete Arista Recordings of Anthony Braxton released by Mosaic Records in 2008.
Five Pieces 1975 is an album by American jazz saxophonist Anthony Braxton recorded in 1975 and released on the Arista label. The album was subsequently included on The Complete Arista Recordings of Anthony Braxton released by Mosaic Records in 2008.
Creative Orchestra Music 1976 is an album by American jazz saxophonist and composer Anthony Braxton recorded in 1976 and released on the Arista label. The album was subsequently included on The Complete Arista Recordings of Anthony Braxton released by Mosaic Records in 2008.
The Iron Men is an album led by trumpeter Woody Shaw which was recorded in 1977 but not released on the Muse label until 1980. The Iron Men was reissued by Mosaic Records as part of Woody Shaw: The Complete Muse Sessions in 2013.
United is an album led by trumpeter Woody Shaw which was recorded in 1981 and released on the Columbia label.
Focus, is an album by saxophonist Arthur Blythe which was recorded in 2002 and released on the Savant label the following year.