| Instrumentals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 26, 2002 | |||
| Recorded | August 29 & 30, 2001 The Bakery, Hollywood CA | |||
| Genre | Rock, jazz | |||
| Length | 76:39 | |||
| Label | Cryptogramophone CG113 | |||
| Producer | Jeff Gautier | |||
| The Nels Cline Singers chronology | ||||
| ||||
Instrumentals is the debut album by The Nels Cline Singers led by American guitarist Nels Cline which was released in March 2002 on the Cryptogramophone label. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
| All About Jazz |  [3] |
| Pitchfork Media | 8.0/10 [4] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [5] |
The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4½ stars out of 5, stating "This is one of Cline's strongest and most innovative efforts". [2] All About Jazz stated "Jazz fans without an ear open to rock rhythms, energy music, or punk sensibility will almost certainly fail to appreciate what the Nels Cline Singers have done on Instrumentals. But Cline doesn't really care about that. His music is a defining statement of identity, a cry from the heart without pretense or ambiguity. For the open-minded, this record will stack up as one of the very best of the year. It's deep, exciting, and viscerally satisfying". [3] Pitchfork Media's Sam Ubl stated "While Instrumentals suffers a bit in comparison to Cline's previous studio work with the huge Destroy All Nels Cline ensemble, it's mostly because the three-piece lineup curtails some of the wild tonal exploration done on that record. Don't fret, though, these folks still have an awful lot going for them". [4] JazzTimes' Ron Wynn noted "There's certainly a lot to admire about what Nels Cline is doing on much of Instrumentals, but there's just too much chaos during those segments that don't work". [6]
All compositions by Nels Cline
The Red Headed Stranger is an interpretation by Carla Bozulich of Willie Nelson's 1975 multi-platinum album Red Headed Stranger, released digitally and on CD by DiCristina Stair Builders in 2003. Nelson appears on three tracks. In 2016, the album was released as a remastered, double vinyl record by Folktale Records.
Draw Breath is the third album released by The Nels Cline Singers in 2007. It featured both abrasive musical textures and gentler compositions such as "Caved-In Heart Blues" and "The Angel of Angels," the latter of which The New York Times called one of the prettiest works of Nels Cline's career.
I Have the Room Above Her is an album by jazz drummer Paul Motian recorded in 2004 released on the ECM label and featuring performances by Motian with Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano. The album was the first release by the trio since At the Village Vanguard (1995).
The Promise is a jazz album released in 1995 by John McLaughlin on Verve Records. The album peaked number 4 in the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart 1996.
The Vigil is an album recorded by Chick Corea and released sixth of August 2013. In the Billboard Jazz albums charts the album peaked at number 4. The album won the Latin Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album at the 15th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.
Nothing to Declare is a solo album by pianist Paul Bley recorded in 2003 and released on the Justin Time label in 2004.
Macroscope is the fifth album by The Nels Cline Singers led by American guitarist Nels Cline which was released in April 2014 on the Mack Avenue label.
Initiate is the fourth album by The Nels Cline Singers led by American guitarist Nels Cline which was released in April 2010 on the Cryptogramophone label.
The Giant Pin is the second album by The Nels Cline Singers led by American guitarist Nels Cline which was released in August 2003 on the Cryptogramophone label.
New Monastery is an album by American guitarist Nels Cline performing compositions by Andrew Hill which was released in September 2006 on the Cryptogramophone label.
Dirty Baby is an album by American guitarist Nels Cline performing compositions inspired by Edward Ruscha, which was released in October 2010 on the Cryptogramophone label.
Coward is a solo album by American guitarist Nels Cline which was released in October 2009 on the Cryptogramophone label.
Destroy All Nels Cline is an album by American guitarist Nels Cline which was released in April 2001 on the Atavistic label.
The Inkling is an album by American guitarist Nels Cline which was released in May 2000 on the Cryptogramophone label.
For People in Sorrow is an album by American percussionist Alex Cline performing a composition inspired by the Art Ensemble of Chicago's 1969 album People in Sorrow which was recorded live at the Angel City Jazz Festival in 2011 and released on the Cryptogramophone label.
Guitar in the Space Age! is an album by Bill Frisell featuring interpretations of songs and instrumentals from the 1960s which was released by OKeh in 2014.
Room is an album by guitarists Nels Cline and Julian Lage which was released in November 2014 on the Mack Avenue label.
Lovers is an album by guitarist Nels Cline which was released in August 2016 on the Blue Note label. Cline stated " I hope Lovers offers something of an update of the 'mood music' idea and ideal, while celebrating and challenging our iconic notion of romance".
Steuart Liebig, born July 25, 1956, is an American bassist and composer of modern creative jazz and the free improvisational music. He plays 6-string bass guitars.
Currents, Constellations is an album by The Nels Cline 4 that was released in April 2018 by the Blue Note label.
