Phases of the Night

Last updated
Phases of the Night
Guy Crispell Lytton Phases of the Night.jpg
Studio album by
Barry Guy, Marilyn Crispell, and Paul Lytton
Released2008
RecordedMay 30 and 31, 2007
StudioStudio Sound Development, Zürich, Switzerland
Genre Free jazz
Label Intakt Records
CD 138
Producer Intakt Records

Phases of the Night is an album by bassist Barry Guy, pianist Marilyn Crispell, and drummer Paul Lytton. It was recorded on May 30 and 31, 2007, at Studio Sound Development in Zurich, Switzerland, and was released in 2008 by Intakt Records. [1] [2]

Contents

The album features performances of four compositions by Guy. Each piece is a reflection or commentary on a painting: "Phases Of The Night" by Max Ernst; "Insomnie" by Dorothea Tanning; "The Invisible Being Embraced" by Wifredo Lam; and "With My Shadow" by Yves Tanguy. [3]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
DownBeat Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
All About Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]

In a review for DownBeat , Fred Bouchard wrote: "Since the titles themselves are powerfully evocative, it’s safe to say that the portentous content of the works ignited the creative flames of these seasoned improvisers, as their collective imagination runs at a fevered clip through bustling, meticulously crafted collective improvisations... Not recommended for the faint of spirit or the waxy of ear." [3]

Writing for All About Jazz , Nic Jones commented: "Any subversion of the piano trio tradition as manifested in the clinical virtuosity of a technocratic elite is always welcome, and it's present here in abundance. This is not however to suggest that this trio lacks technique, it's just that the music they produce is so free of the constraints of any overt tradition that the results are compelling... The effect overall is of a deeply empathetic trio coming to terms with the moment with the aid of prepared material that's anything but inhibiting." [4]

Paris Transatlantic's Nate Dorward stated: "This is (compositionally-assisted) free improv in the grand manner, almost disconcertingly free of the gap between thought and action that's central to so much improvised music... Which isn't to say that lightning reflexes and absolute certitude/commitment aren't themselves exciting to listen to, of course. The result here is an awesome collision of spirits, and the players effortlessly handle these four big musical canvases with due attention both to the explosive power of individual gestures and to the way these contribute to the larger whole." [5]

Track listing

All compositions by Barry Guy.

  1. "Phases of the Night" – 16:49
  2. "Insomnie" – 8:58
  3. "The Invisible Being Embraced" – 12:47
  4. "With My Shadow" – 14:30

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Parker</span> British saxophone player

Evan Shaw Parker is a British tenor and soprano saxophone player who plays free improvisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marilyn Crispell</span> American jazz pianist and composer

Marilyn Crispell is an American jazz pianist and composer. Scott Yanow described her as "a powerful player... who has her own way of using space... She is near the top of her field." Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote: "Hearing Marilyn Crispell play solo piano is like monitoring an active volcano... She is one of a very few pianists who rise to the challenge of free jazz." In addition to her own extensive work as a soloist or bandleader, Crispell is also known as a longtime member of saxophonist Anthony Braxton's quartet in the 1980s and '90s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irène Schweizer</span> Swiss pianist

Irène Schweizer is a Swiss jazz and free improvising pianist. She was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Guy</span> British composer and double bass player (born 1947)

Barry John Guy is an English composer and double bass player. His range of interests encompasses early music, contemporary composition, jazz and improvisation, and he has worked with a wide variety of orchestras in the UK and Europe. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music under Buxton Orr, and later taught there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joëlle Léandre</span> French musician

Joëlle Léandre is a French double bassist, vocalist, and composer active in new music and free improvisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Watts</span> English saxophonist

Trevor Charles Watts is an English jazz and free-improvising alto and soprano saxophonist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Lytton</span> British musician

Paul Lytton is an English free jazz and free improvising percussionist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okka Disk</span>

Okka Disk is an independent American jazz record company and label founded in Chicago by Bruno Johnson in 1994.

<i>Cascades</i> (Marilyn Crispell album) 1995 live album by Marilyn Crispell

Cascades is an album by the American jazz pianist Marilyn Crispell, the British double bass player Barry Guy and the drummer Gerry Hemingway, which was recorded live in 1993 during the Vancouver Jazz Festival and released on the Music & Arts label. This was the first time that they worked together as a trio.

<i>Iskra 1903</i> 1972 studio album live by Paul Rutherford, Derek Bailey and Barry Guy

Iskra 1903 is the debut album by the group of the same name, featuring trombonist Paul Rutherford, guitarist Derek Bailey and bassist Barry Guy which was recorded at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1970 and in a studio in 1972 and first released as a double album on the Incus label then as a triple CD box set entitled Chapter One 1970-1972 on Emanem in 2000 with additional material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raymond Strid</span> Musical artist

Raymond Strid is a Swedish drummer in the genre of free jazz and the new European improvised music.

<i>Azure</i> (Gary Peacock and Marilyn Crispell album) 2013 studio album by Gary Peacock and Marilyn Crispell

Azure is an album by bassist Gary Peacock and pianist Marilyn Crispell. It was recorded at Nevessa Production in Saugerties, New York in January and February 2011, and was released on ECM in 2013.

<i>Odyssey</i> (Barry Guy, Marilyn Crispell, and Paul Lytton album) 2001 studio album by Barry Guy, Marilyn Crispell, and Paul Lytton

Odyssey is an album by bassist Barry Guy, pianist Marilyn Crispell, and drummer Paul Lytton. It was recorded on August 24 and 25, 1999, at Rote Fabrik in Zurich, Switzerland, and was released in 2001 by Intakt Records.

<i>Ithaca</i> (Barry Guy, Marilyn Crispell, and Paul Lytton album) 2004 studio album by Barry Guy, Marilyn Crispell, and Paul Lytton

Ithaca is an album by bassist Barry Guy, pianist Marilyn Crispell, and drummer Paul Lytton. It was recorded on January 14 and 15, 2003, at Radio Studio DRS in Zurich, Switzerland, and was released in 2004 by Intakt Records.

<i>Deep Memory</i> 2016 studio album by Barry Guy, Marilyn Crispell, and Paul Lytton

Deep Memory is an album by bassist Barry Guy, pianist Marilyn Crispell, and drummer Paul Lytton. It was recorded on May 21, 2015, at Powerplay Studios in Maur, Switzerland, and was released in 2016 by Intakt Records. The album features seven compositions by Guy, all named after and inspired by paintings of Hughie O'Donoghue.

<i>Inscape–Tableaux</i> 2001 studio album by Barry Guy

Inscape–Tableaux is an album by bassist Barry Guy. It was recorded on May 18 and 19, 2000, at Rote Fabrik in Zürich, Switzerland, and was released in 2001 by Intakt Records. On the album, which features a seven-part composition by Guy, he plays bass and directs members of his New Orchestra: Evan Parker and Mats Gustafsson on saxophone, Hans Koch on saxophone and clarinet, Herb Robertson on trumpet, Johannes Bauer on trombone, Per Åke Holmlander on tuba, Marilyn Crispell on piano, and Paul Lytton and Raymond Strid on percussion.

<i>Natives and Aliens</i> 1997 studio album by Evan Parker, Barry Guy, Paul Lytton, and Marilyn Crispell

Natives and Aliens is an album by the members of the Evan Parker Trio, with guest pianist Marilyn Crispell. It was recorded on May 24, 1996, at Gateway Studios in London, and was released in 1997 by Leo Records.

<i>After Appleby</i> 2000 live album by Evan Parker, Barry Guy, Paul Lytton, and Marilyn Crispell

After Appleby is a double-CD album by the members of the Evan Parker Trio, with guest pianist Marilyn Crispell. One CD was recorded on June 28, 1999, at Gateway Studio in London, while the other was recorded live the following day at the Vortex Jazz Club in London. The recordings took place immediately after the Appleby Jazz Festival, where the musicians performed in a variety of combinations. The album was released in 2000 by Leo Records.

<i>Harmos</i> 1989 studio album by Barry Guy and the London Jazz Composers Orchestra

Harmos is an album by Barry Guy and the London Jazz Composers' Orchestra that features a recording of a large-scale, 44-minute composition by Guy. It was recorded in April 1989, just before the LJCO's 20th anniversary, in Zürich, Switzerland, and was released later that year by Intakt Records. Guy interpreted the Greek title in its original meaning of "coming together," and the work attempts to find solutions to the challenges surrounding the coexistence of improvisation and composition.

<i>Double Trouble Two</i> 1998 studio album by Barry Guy

Double Trouble Two is an album by Barry Guy and the London Jazz Composers' Orchestra with guest artists Irène Schweizer (piano), Marilyn Crispell (piano), and Pierre Favre (drums). Documenting a large-scale, 47-minute composition by Guy, it was recorded in December 1995 in Zürich, Switzerland, and was released in 1998 by Intakt Records.

References

  1. ↑ "Barry Guy: Phases of the Night". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ Lopez, Rick. "The Marilyn Crispell Sessionography". bb10k. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Bouchard, Fred (October 2008). "Phases of the Night". DownBeat. p. 74.
  4. 1 2 Jones, Nic (July 6, 2008). "Barry Guy / Marilyn Crispell / Paul Lytton: Phases Of The Night". All About Jazz. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  5. ↑ Dorward, Nate (February 2009). "Barry Guy / Marilyn Crispell / Paul Lytton: Phases Of The Night". Paris Transatlantic. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.