Ruler Rebel

Last updated
Ruler Rebel
Ruler Rebel cover.jpg
Studio album by
Christian Scott
ReleasedMarch 31, 2017
RecordedApril 16–21, 2016
StudioThe Parlor, New Orleans, LA
Genre Jazz
Length35:41
Label Ropeadope Records RAD-352,
Stretch Music
Producer Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Chris Dunn
Christian Scott chronology
Stretch Music
(2015)		Ruler Rebel
(2017)		 Diaspora
(2017)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Financial Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
The Irish Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Jazzwise Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Pitchfork 7.6/10 [5]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Tom Hull B+ [7]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]

Ruler Rebel is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter Christian Scott released on March 31, 2017 by Ropeadope Records. The album is the first installment of The Centennial Trilogy, with Diaspora and The Emancipation Procrastination being the second and the third ones respectively. [9]

Contents

Background

The album serves as a soaring ode to Scott's hometown of New Orleans. [10] Ruler Rebel is the first album in the Centennial Trilogy to honor the 100-year anniversary of the song often considered to be the first jazz recording. The trilogy, at its core, is a sobering re-evaluation of the social political realities of the world through sound. The series speaks to a litany of issues that continue to plague our collective experiences: slavery in America via the prison industrial complex, food insecurity, xenophobia, immigration, climate change, sexual orientation, gender equality, fascism and the return of the demagogue. [11]

Reception

Mike Hobart of Financial Times stated "The brash-toned New Orleans-raised trumpeter brands his big-hearted fusion of the past and present stretch music. It’s a futuristic vision that combines traditional beats with sparse hip-hop textures and tugs the heart strings with lashings of trumpet. Scott pulls the disparate elements together brilliantly with strong moods, clear lines and melodies you can hum. This release, the first in a trilogy commemorating the centenary of the first jazz recordings, presents Scott centre stage, his tone burnished by tradition, playing with only the future in mind." [1] John Bungey writing for The Times commented, "But if his ebullient, dramatic playing reflects the tradition of his native New Orleans, the settings in which he deploys it now do not. We’re a long way from the swinging rhythms and rapid chord changes that so long signalled jazz. Instead, Scott’s glistening tone is set against trap music — the southern style of hip-hop with spare beats and cavernous bass — plus African drumming and electronica." [8]

Adolf Alzufar of Ransom Note wrote "There's something political to the beauty of Scott’s Jazz. It allies street sounds with the contemporary now understood to be petit-bourgeois and bourgeois language into music that exists outside of classism and in a realm of idealism, like how Archie Schepp would. The album is a great achievement. In this world wherein economic inequality has come to define our everyday life and politics, music previously associated with select social constructs now has the umph and presence of Hip Hop." [12]

Flood Magazine included the album in the Best Records of 2017 list. In his review Jason P. Woodbury wrote, "Ruler Rebel finds Scott’s “stretch music”—a blend of bop, trap, R&B, and electronic soul—more nuanced than ever. Presenting jazz as music of the moment as much as of the past, its fusion is subtle and deft." [13]

Track listing

Ruler Rebel track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ruler Rebel"Scott5:45
2."New Orleanian Love Song"Scott2:33
3."New Orleanian Love Song II [X. aTunde Adjuah Remix]"Scott4:56
4."Phases" (Feat. Sarah Elizabeth Charles)Cliff Hines, Sarah Elizabeth Charles4:15
5."Rise Again [Allmos Remix]"Scott, Allan Cole3:42
6."Encryption" (Feat. Elena Pinderhughes)Scott5:38
7."The Coronation of X. aTunde Adjuah" (Feat. Elena Pinderhughes)Scott5:36
8."The Reckoning"Scott3:16
Total length:35:41

Personnel

Chart performance

Chart (2017)Peak
position
US Jazz Albums (Billboard) [14] 5

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Hargrove</span> American jazz trumpeter (1969–2018)

Roy Anthony Hargrove was an American jazz musician and composer whose principal instruments were the trumpet and flugelhorn. He achieved worldwide acclaim after winning two Grammy Awards for differing styles of jazz in 1998 and 2002. Hargrove primarily played in the hard bop style for the majority of his albums, but also had a penchant for genre-crossing exploration and collaboration with a variety of hip hop, soul, R&B and alternative rock artists. As Hargrove told one reporter, "I've been around all kinds of musicians, and if a cat can play, a cat can play. If it's gospel, funk, R&B, jazz or hip-hop, if it's something that gets in your ear and it's good, that's what matters."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald Harrison</span> American jazz saxophonist

Donald Harrison Jr. is an African-American jazz saxophonist and the Big Chief of The Congo Square Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group from New Orleans, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Gunn</span> American contemporary jazz trumpeter (born 1971)

Russell Gunn is an American contemporary jazz trumpeter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah</span> American jazz composer and trumpeter

Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah, , is an American jazz trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet</span> US musical group

Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet is a jazz ensemble formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2002 and led by saxophonist Eric "Skerik" Walton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ropeadope Records</span> American record label

Ropeadope Records is an American record label known for recordings in a variety of genres including jazz, hip hop, gospel, and electronic music. The label, now led by Louis Marks, was founded in 1999 by Andy Hurwitz in New York City and later moved to Philadelphia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snarky Puppy</span> American jazz ensemble

Snarky Puppy is an American jazz fusion band led by bassist Michael League. Founded in 2004, Snarky Puppy combines a variety of jazz idioms, rock, world music, and funk and has won five Grammy Awards. Although the band has worked with vocalists, League described Snarky Puppy as "a pop band that improvises a lot, without vocals".

<i>Christian aTunde Adjuah</i> 2012 studio album by Christian Scott

Christian aTunde Adjuah is a two-disc studio album by American jazz trumpeter Christian Scott released on 31 July 2012 by Concord Records.

<i>Yesterday You Said Tomorrow</i> 2010 studio album by Christian Scott

Yesterday You Said Tomorrow is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter Christian Scott. Concord Music Group released the album on February 1, 2010 in the UK and on March 30, 2010 in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice "Mobetta" Brown</span> American jazz trumpeter, producer and composer

Maurice "Mobetta" Brown originally from Harvey, Illinois is a Grammy Award-winning American jazz trumpeter, producer and composer. As a member of Tedeschi Trucks Band, he shared the 2011 Grammy for Best Blues Album (Revelator).

Qmillion, is an American record producer, mix engineer, composer, and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Qmillion's achievement for recording and mixing recording artist Robert Glasper's critically acclaimed Black Radio album, gained him a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 55th Grammy Awards in 2013. and most recently nominated for Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for Black Radio III by Robert Glasper on the 2023 Grammys.

<i>The Emancipation Procrastination</i> 2017 studio album by Christian Scott

The Emancipation Procrastination is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter Christian Scott released on October 20, 2017, by Ropeadope Records. The album is the third and final installment of The Centennial Trilogy, with Ruler Rebel and Diaspora being the first and the second respectively. The Emancipation Procrastination was nominated for a Grammy Award at the 61st Grammy ceremony.

<i>Diaspora</i> (Christian Scott album) 2017 studio album by Christian Scott

Diaspora is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter Christian Scott released on June 23, 2017 by Ropeadope Records. The album is the second installment of The Centennial Trilogy, with Ruler Rebel and The Emancipation Procrastination being the first and the third ones respectively.

<i>Stretch Music</i> 2015 studio album by Christian Scott

Stretch Music (Introducing Elena Pinderhughes) is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter Christian Scott released on September 18, 2015 by Ropeadope Records. This is his fifth full-length studio album as a leader.

<i>Ancestral Recall</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Christian Scott

Ancestral Recall is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter Christian Scott released on March 22, 2019 by Ropeadope Records label. The album also features poet and songwriter Saul Williams.

<i>Love Will Find a Way</i> (Philip Bailey album) 2019 studio album by Philip Bailey

Love Will Find a Way is a jazz album by Philip Bailey released in 2019 on Verve Records. The album reached No. 1 on both the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Axiom</i> (Christian Scott album) 2020 live album by Christian Scott

Axiom is a live album by American jazz musician Christian Scott released on August 28, 2020 by Ropeadope Records label. The album is also available in a special deluxe edition and as a vinyl release.

<i>Collagically Speaking</i> 2018 studio album by RR=Now

Collagically Speaking is the debut studio album by jazz supergroup R+R=NOW. It was released on June 15, 2018 through Blue Note Records. Recording sessions took place at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Derrick Hodge, Justin Tyson, Robert Glasper, Taylor McFerrin and Terrace Martin, with Nicole Hegeman and Vincent Bennett serving as executive producers. It features contributions from Amanda Seales, Amber Navran, Goapele Mohlabane, India Shawn, Jahi Sundance, Mirna Jose, Omari Hardwick, Stalley, Terry Crews and Yasiin Bey.

<i>Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning</i> 2023 studio album by Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah

Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning is a 2023 album by American jazz musician Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah released by Ropeadope Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elena Pinderhughes</span> Musical artist

Elena Pinderhughes is an American jazz flutist, singer, and composer. She has toured extensively with jazz trumpeter Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah and has also performed with Herbie Hancock, Common, Esperanza Spalding, Vijay Iyer, Lionel Loueke, Carlos Santana, and Josh Groban.

References

  1. 1 2 Hobart, Make (31 March 2017). "Christian Scott: Ruler Rebel — 'burnished by tradition'". Financial Times . ft.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  2. ↑ Fordham, John (20 April 2017). "Christian Scott: Ruler Rebel review – edgy reinventions of the jazz tradition". The Guardian . theguardian.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  3. ↑ Larkin, Cormac (6 April 2017). "Christian Scott – Ruler Rebel album review: hits the right hip-hop notes". The Irish Times . irishtimes.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  4. ↑ Nicholson, Stuart (July 2017). "Review". Jazzwise . Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Colter Walls, Seth (21 October 2017). "Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah Ruler Rebel". Pitchfork . pitchfork.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  6. ↑ Waring, Charles. "Ruler Rebel (**** Ropeadope)". Record Collector . recordcollectormag.com. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Christian Scott". Tom Hull . Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  8. 1 2 Bungey, John (31 March 2017). "Jazz: Christian Scott/ Various artists: Running the Voodoo Down". The Times . Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  9. ↑ Mullin, Kyle (July 19, 2017). "Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah: The Best Of What's Next". Paste Magazine . pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Zacharias, Isabel; Fleeger, Matt (January 5, 2018). "Christian Scott's Centennial Trilogy Is A Masterpiece". KMHD . opb.org. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "Christian Scott – Ruler Rebel". Discogs . discogs.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  12. ↑ Alzufar, Adolf. "REVIEW: CHRISTIAN SCOTT - RULER REBEL". Ransom Note. theransomnote.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  13. ↑ Woodbury, Jason P. (23 June 2017). "FLOOD's Best Records of 2017 (So Far)". Flood Magazine. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  14. ↑ "CHRISTIAN SCOTT: CHART HISTORY". Billboard. billboard.com . Retrieved 18 May 2018.
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.