| Medicine Buddha | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | 2014 | |||
| Recorded | May 8, 2009 | |||
| Venue | Rubin Museum of Art, New York City | |||
| Genre | Free jazz | |||
| Label | NoBusiness NBCD 71 | |||
| Producer | Danas Mikailionis, William Parker, Valerij Anosov | |||
| Billy Bang chronology | ||||
| ||||
Medicine Buddha is a live album by violinist Billy Bang and double bassist William Parker. It was recorded on May 8, 2009, at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City, and was released in 2014 by NoBusiness Records. [1] [2] [3]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Free Jazz Collective |   [4] |
| Jazzwise | [5] |
| Tom Hull – on the Web | A− [6] |
In a review for The Free Jazz Collective, Martin Schray called the album "Parker's last good-bye for a lifelong friend" (Bang died in 2011), and wrote: "What's so great about this music is the fact that you can literally listen to a friendship, to a deep emotional connection... In its best moments the album is filled with absolute magic leaping off the strings, dynamic plucks, a vortex of overtones, and an enthusiastic commitment to sheer beauty. [4]
Mike Shanley of JazzTimes stated: "the duo's longstanding friendship involved not only shared musical sensibilities but humor and a sense of joie de vivre as well. Those feelings come across clearly on this set." [7]
Writing for Jazzwise , Spencer Grady described the album as a "sublime string summit, the resumption of an intuitive, spiritual connection," and depicted the opening track as "summoning snaking, blues-driven string drones" that find "antecedents in the avant-garde hillbilly epics of Henry Flynt." [5]
Dusted Magazine's Derek Taylor praised the track titled "Eternal Planet," featuring "Parker covering the low end with a ferocious back and forth between fingers and snapping bow and Bang scribbling and scrawling several registers above, his lines tapering and twirling at dizzying speeds to leave textured trails." [8]
John Sharpe of The New York City Jazz Record called the album "a fitting tribute to Bang," and noted: "The most effective moments come when both men are wielding their bows. Parker is a past master at imaginative yet propulsive underpinning and he partakes in abstract interplay with Bang throughout this set." [9]
Critic Tom Hull included the recording in his "Best Jazz Albums of 2014" list, describing it as "superb," and remarking: "I wouldn't hold much hope for violin-bass duos, but we're talking two all-time jazz greats here, and both have a tendency toward hearts-on-sleeve." [10]
In an article for Point of Departure, Jason Bivins stated that the album is "filled with absolute magic leaping off the strings, propulsive plucks, whorls of overtones, and always a commitment to deep melody." He commented: "What's so great about this music is Bang's and Parker's ability to create... veritable tapestries but to continually imbue them with fresh detail, whether a slice of deep funk or a suggestive, woody detail. Fine stuff." [11]
Billy Bang, born William Vincent Walker, was an American free jazz violinist and composer.
Rainbow Gladiator is an album by the American jazz violinist Billy Bang, recorded in 1981 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.
Valve No. 10 is an album by the American jazz violinist Billy Bang recorded in 1988 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.
A Tribute to Stuff Smith is an album by the American jazz violinist Billy Bang recorded in 1992. The album was released on the Italian Soul Note label and features songs written by or associated with violinist Stuff Smith (1909-1967). Bang is supported by pianist and former Smith collaborator Sun Ra, bassist John Ore and drummer Andrew Cyrille.
Wiring is an album by Trio 3, a jazz group consisting of saxophonist Oliver Lake, bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Andrew Cyrille, with guest pianist Vijay Iyer. It was recorded in 2013 and released by Intakt Records.
Configuration is a live album by bassist Sirone and violinist Billy Bang, recorded in November, 2004, at CBGB's Gallery in New York City, and released in 2005 by Silkheart Records. On the album, the musicians are joined by the members of the Sirone Bang Ensemble: saxophonist Charles Gayle and drummer Tyshawn Sorey.
Through Acceptance of the Mystery Peace is an album by bassist William Parker, his debut as a leader. It was recorded during 1974–1979, and was initially released on LP in limited quantities by Parker's Centering label in 1980. In 1998, the album was reissued on CD by Eremite Records in expanded form. The recording features Parker in ensembles of varying size.
Live is a live album by the cooperative jazz ensemble known as The Group, featuring saxophonist Marion Brown, trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah, violinist Billy Bang, bassists Sirone and Fred Hopkins, and drummer Andrew Cyrille. The band's sole release, it was recorded on September 13, 1986, at the Jazz Center of New York in New York City, and was issued on LP and CD by NoBusiness Records in 2012, over 25 years after the concert.
Spirits Entering is an album by percussionist Kahil El'Zabar and violinist Billy Bang. It was recorded during May 1998 at Riverside Studio in Chicago, and was released in 2001 by Delmark Records.
Tribal Ghost is a live album by saxophonists John Tchicai and Charlie Kohlhase, guitarist Garrison Fewell, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Billy Hart. It was recorded on February 9 and 10, 2007, at Birdland in New York City, and was released on vinyl in limited quantities in 2013 by NoBusiness Records.
Live at Maya Recordings Festival is a live album by saxophonist Evan Parker, double bassist Barry Guy, and drummer Paul Lytton. It was recorded during September 23–25, 2011, at the Theater am Gleis in Winterthur, Switzerland, and was released on both vinyl and CD in 2013 by NoBusiness Records.
Music for David Mossman: Live at Vortex London is a live album by saxophonist Evan Parker, double bassist Barry Guy, and drummer Paul Lytton. It was recorded on July 14, 2016, at the Vortex Jazz Club in London, and was released in 2018 by Intakt Records. The album is dedicated to the founder of the Vortex, who died in December 2018.
Live at the Black Musicians' Conference, 1981 is a live album by saxophonist Marion Brown and pianist Dave Burrell. It was recorded on April 10, 1981, at the Black Musicians' Conference at University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts, and was released in 2018 by NoBusiness Records. The album features two compositions by Brown, three by Burrell, and two by Billy Strayhorn.
Spring is a live album of duets by pianist Irène Schweizer and saxophonist Jürg Wickihalder. It was recorded on February 6 and 7, 2014, at Loft Köln in Köln, Germany, and was released later that year by Intakt Records. The album features two compositions by Thelonious Monk, one by Schweizer, five by Wickihalder, three free improvisations, and, as a closer, Leonello Casucci's "Just a Gigolo".
Billy Bang/Bill Cole is a live album by violinist Billy Bang and multi-instrumentalist Bill Cole. It was recorded on April 17, 2009, at the University of Virginia Chapel in Charlottesville, Virginia, and was released in 2010 by Cole's Shadrack label. On the album, which features three compositions and three free improvisations, Cole performs on flute, digeridoo, nadaswaram, suona, and shehnai.
Bang On! is an album by violinist Billy Bang. It was recorded on April 21 and 23, 1997, at Sound on Sound Studios in New York City, and was released later that year by Justin Time Records. On the album, which features a blend of jazz standards and original compositions, Bang is joined by pianist D. D. Jackson, double bassist Akira Ando, and drummer Ronnie Burrage.
Irvin's Comet is a live solo double bass album by Barry Guy. It was recorded on October 29, 2019, at the "Improdimensija" (Improdimension) concert series held at MAMAstudios in Vilnius, Lithuania, and was released on vinyl in 2020 by NoBusiness Records.
Mental Shake is a live album by saxophonist Peter Brötzmann, vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, double bassist John Edwards, and drummer Steve Noble. Consisting of a single 39-minute track, it was recorded on August 12, 2013, at Cafe Oto in London, and was released in 2014 by the Otoroku label.
The Freestyle Band is an album by the collective free jazz trio of the same name, featuring clarinetist Henry P. Warner, double bassist and pianist Earl Freeman, and hand drummer Philip Spigner. The group's sole release, it was recorded during 1984 at Sorcerer Sound in New York City, and was initially released on vinyl the same year by Adeyeme Productions Unlimited with cover art by Freeman. In 2012, it was reissued on CD with the title Freestyle Band by NoBusiness Records. The reissue contains two additional tracks, along with extensive notes by Ed Hazell, plus photos and reproductions of flyers.
Ode to O is the second album by the OGJB Quartet, a collaborative ensemble named after the first letters of the musicians' first names, featuring saxophonist Oliver Lake, cornetist Graham Haynes, double bassist Joe Fonda, and drummer Barry Altschul. Named after the title track, a tribute to Ornette Coleman, it was recorded on June 7 and 8, 2019, at Sear Sound Studios in New York City, and was released in 2022 by TUM Records.
