| Man'ish Boy (A Raw & Beautiful Thing) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2009 | |||
| Recorded | April 27, 2009 | |||
| Studio | Systems Two, Brooklyn | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 51:59 | |||
| Label | AUM Fidelity | |||
| Producer | Darius Jones, Steven Joerg | |||
| Darius Jones chronology | ||||
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Man'ish Boy (A Raw & Beautiful Thing) 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.
The record features his trio with pianist Cooper-Moore and drummer Rakalam Bob Moses, and reflects his early childhood growing up in the South. His experiences in church, particularly hearing gospel choirs were a deep inspiration for this project. Jones first met Moses at a performance while still in Virginia and joined forces with Cooper-Moore, a fellow Virginian, after moving to New York. Cooper-Moore was asked specifically to also play diddley bow, a one-wire stringed instrument with roots in the deep south via Africa. The album's bonus track features a 2008 live performance by Jones' regular working trio with bassists Adam Lane and drummer Jason Nazary. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
In his review for AllMusic, François Couture states "Darius Jones' recording debut as a leader turned out to be one of the jazz highlights of 2009. This sets the bar pretty high for the young saxophonist's next move." [2]
The All About Jazz review by Troy Collins says "A phenomenal debut, Man'ish Boy (A Raw & Beautiful Thing) presents the singular artistry of Darius Jones; a new voice poised to receive widespread acclaim from the jazz underground." [3]
In another review for All About Jazz, John Sharpe notes that "Jones has a talent for penning intensely emotional themes, which provide a fertile launching pad for his vibrato-laden alto preaching. Whether hollering in a multiphonic falsetto or punctuating his keening cries with gutbucket blasts, the saxophonist exudes complete authority." [4]
The Point of Departure review by Ed Hazell describes the album as "one of the most impressive debuts in recent memory" and says "Amazingly, there’s little sense of two veterans supporting a younger, less experienced player. They sound like a trio of peers, which bodes well for this exciting new voice in the free jazz tradition." [5]
Bonus track
Bonus track
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.
Cooper-Moore is an American jazz pianist, composer and instrument builder/designer based in New York City.
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.
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.
Onecept is an album by saxophonist David S. Ware which was recorded in 2009 and released on the AUM Fidelity label.
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.
Traits is an album by American jazz musician Joe Morris, which was recorded in 2010 and released on his own Riti label. It was the second recording by his group Wildlife, expanded to a quartet consisting of the trio with whom he recorded the eponymous debut album, with the addition of alto saxophonist Jim Hobbs.
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.
Live at Jazzfestival Saalfelden 2011 is an album by American jazz saxophonist David S. Ware released on the AUM Fidelity label. It documents the second live performance by Ware's band Planetary Unknown following its world premiere at Vision Festival 16 in New York.
Life in the Sugar Candle Mines is the debut album by Black Host, a free jazz quintet led by drummer Gerald Cleaver, who is joined by alto saxophonist Darius Jones, guitarist Brandon Seabrook, pianist Cooper-Moore and bassist Pascal Niggenkemper. It was released in 2013 on the Northern Spy label.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Birth of a Being is the first recording as a leader by American jazz saxophonist David S. Ware, recorded in 1977 and originally released on the Swiss Hat Hut label. The record presents a collective trio called Apogee with pianist Cooper-Moore, then known as Gene Ashton, and drummer Marc Edwards. It was reissued on CD by AUM Fidelity in 2015 with a bonus disc including five unreleased tracks from the same sessions.
Jason Nazary is an American jazz and improvisational musician. He was born in Aviano, Italy, while his father was in the US military, and grew up in the Atlanta, Georgia area. In 2002, he played in Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. He moved to New York City in 2005, and, as of 2019, he is based in Brooklyn, New York.