Sound (Roscoe Mitchell album)

Last updated
Sound
Sound (Roscoe Mitchell album).jpg
Studio album by
Roscoe Mitchell
Released1966 (1966)
RecordedAugust 10–26, 1966
StudioSound Studios (Chicago)
Genre Free jazz, avant-garde [1]
Length37:12
Label Delmark
Producer Robert G. Koester
Roscoe Mitchell chronology
Before There Was Sound
(2011)		Sound
(1966)		 Old/Quartet
(1967)

Sound is the debut album by free jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, recorded in 1966 and released on the Delmark label. It features performances by Mitchell, Lester Bowie, Malachi Favors, Maurice McIntyre, Lester Lashley and Alvin Fielder. The CD reissue includes two takes of "Sound", which were edited together to form the original LP version, and an alternative take of "Ornette".

Contents

According to Alvin Fielder, "[the] music was rehearsed. It sounds unrehearsed but it was that loose...For Sound, we rehearsed four to five days per week...It took us two recording days to do Sound and it went well." [2] Wadada Leo Smith commented: "It's no accident that Roscoe called that important piece of his Sound. Sound - not pitch - that's the difference." [3] According to Mitchell, "[t]he musicians are free to make any sound they think will do, any sound that they hear at a particular time. That could be like somebody who felt like stomping on the floor... well, he would stomp on the floor. And you notice the approach of the musicians to their instruments is a little different from what one would normally hear... I always 'felt' a lot of instruments - and I feel myself being drawn to it. I'm getting more interested in music as strictly atmosphere, not so much of just standing up playing for playing's sake, but my mind stretches out to other things, like creating different sounds." [4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Penguin Guide to Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [5]
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [6]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected the album as part of its suggested Core Collection. The authors wrote: "What a vital, electrifying document this remains!... Mitchell organizes his group around the notion of sounds entering into - and interrelating with - silence. So there are tiny gestures and startling emptinesses alongside long lines and soliloquies... Both a manifesto and an unrepeatable event, Sound remains a marvel." [5]

The Allmusic review by Steve Huey awarded the album 5 stars, stating, "Structurally, Sound heralded a whole new approach to free improvisation; where most previous free jazz prized an unrelenting fever pitch of emotion, Sound was full of wide-open spaces between instruments, an agreeably rambling pace in between the high-energy climaxes, and a more abstract quality to its solos. Steady rhythmic pulses were mostly discarded in favor of collective, spontaneous dialogues and novel textures (especially with the less orthodox instruments, which had tremendous potential for flat-out weird noises). Simply put, it's an exploration of pure sound." [1]

The album was identified by Chris Kelsey in his Allmusic essay "Free Jazz: A Subjective History" as one of the 20 Essential Free Jazz Albums. [7] Elliott Sharp called the album "one of Mitchell's finest early moments" and included it in his list "Ten Free Jazz Albums to Hear Before You Die". [8]

Influence

The album's influence on other improvisers was considerable: "Sound's concepts of texture, space, and interaction would shortly be expanded upon in classic recordings by Anthony Braxton, Muhal Richard Abrams, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and others; the repercussions from its expansion of free jazz's tonal and emotional palettes are still being felt". [1]

Track listing

Original LP

All compositions by Roscoe Mitchell

Side One

  1. "Ornette – 5:22
  2. "The Little Suite" – 10:20

Side Two

  1. "Sound" – 21:30

CD Reissue

  1. "Ornette" [alternative take] – 5:44
  2. "Sound 1" – 26:36
  3. "The Little Suite" – 10:27
  4. "Ornette" – 5:29
  5. "Sound 2" – 19:24

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art Ensemble of Chicago</span> American avant-garde jazz group

The Art Ensemble of Chicago is an avant-garde jazz group that grew out of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in the late 1960s. The ensemble integrates many jazz styles and plays many instruments, including "little instruments": bells, bicycle horns, birthday party noisemakers, wind chimes, and various forms of percussion. The musicians would wear costumes and face paint while performing. These characteristics combined to make the ensemble's performances both aural and visual. While playing in Europe in 1969, five hundred instruments were used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roscoe Mitchell</span> American composer, jazz musician, and educator

Roscoe Mitchell is an American composer, jazz instrumentalist, and educator, known for being "a technically superb – if idiosyncratic – saxophonist". The Penguin Guide to Jazz described him as "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz; All About Jazz stated in 2004 that he had been "at the forefront of modern music" for more than 35 years. Critic Jon Pareles in The New York Times has mentioned that Mitchell "qualifies as an iconoclast". In addition to his own work as a bandleader, Mitchell is known for cofounding the Art Ensemble of Chicago and the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).

Alvin Leroy Fielder Jr was an American jazz drummer. He was a charter member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), Black Arts Music Society, Improvisational Arts band, and was a founding faculty member of the Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp.

<i>A Jackson in Your House</i> 1969 studio album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

A Jackson in Your House is a 1969 album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded for the French BYG Actuel label. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell and Malachi Favors Maghostut. When issued on CD by Affinity in 1989, the track "The Waltz" was replaced by a six-minute live excerpt entitled "Hey Friend" which has never reappeared on any subsequent reissue.

<i>Tutankhamun</i> (album) 1969 studio album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Tutankhamun is a 1969 album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago first released on the Freedom label. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell and Malachi Favors Maghostut.

<i>Reese and the Smooth Ones</i> 1969 studio album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Reese and the Smooth Ones is a 1969 album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded in Paris for the French BYG Actuel label. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell and Malachi Favors Maghostut.

<i>Live in Paris</i> (Art Ensemble of Chicago album) 1974 live album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Live in Paris is a double live album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded in Paris and first released on the BYG Actuel label in Japan as two separate volumes in 1974. It was issued on CD by Charly Records under the title 'Live In Paris' presumably to avoid confusion with the Delmark 'Live At Delmark Hall' album, and then later issued in the US, with the same artwork and design, by Fuel 2000 Records in the US. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut, Fontella Bass and Don Moye. Despite reissues identifying it as "Live In Paris" and claiming a date of 5 October 1969, it was actually a radio broadcast from performances in Chateauvailon on 13 August 1970.

<i>Fanfare for the Warriors</i> 1973 studio album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Fanfare for the Warriors is a 1973 album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago first released on the Atlantic label. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut and Don Moye along with AACM leader Muhal Richard Abrams.

<i>Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass</i> 1971 studio album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass is a 1970 album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded in Paris and released on the America label in 1971 then reissued in the US on Prestige Records the following year. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut, Fontella Bass, and Don Moye.

<i>Full Force</i> (Art Ensemble of Chicago album) 1980 studio album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Full Force is a 1980 album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago, their second to appear on the ECM label.

<i>Naked</i> (Art Ensemble of Chicago album) 1986 studio album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Naked is a 1986 album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago released on the Japanese DIW label. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut and Don Moye.

<i>Ancient to the Future</i> 1987 studio album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Ancient to the Future: Dreaming of the Masters Series Vol. 1 is a 1987 album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago released on the Japanese DIW label. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut and Don Moye with Bahnamous Lee Bowie guesting.

<i>Fundamental Destiny</i> Live album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Fundamental Destiny is a live album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Don Pullen recorded in June 1991 in Frankfurt, Germany and released in 2007 on the group's AECO label. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut, and Don Moye with Don Pullen joining on piano.

<i>Coming Home Jamaica</i> 1998 studio album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Coming Home Jamaica is a 1998 album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago originally released on the Atlantic label and reissued in 2002 on the Dreyfus label. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut and Don Moye with Bahnamous Lee Bowie guesting on one track.

<i>Tribute to Lester</i> 2003 studio album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Tribute to Lester is an album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded in September 2001 and released on ECM in August 2003—their first release on the label since The Third Decade (1984). The ensemble, now a trio, features reed player Roscoe Mitchell and rhythm section Malachi Favors Maghostut and Don Moye. The album was recorded following Joseph Jarman's temporary retirement from the group and the death of founding member Lester Bowie, to whom it is dedicated.

<i>Live at Mandel Hall</i> 1972 live album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Live at Mandel Hall is a live album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded at the University of Chicago's Mandel Hall on their return to Chicago from Europe in January 1972 and released on the Delmark label. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors and Don Moye.

<i>Kabalaba</i> 1978 live album by Art Ensemble of Chicago

Kabalaba is a live album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1974 and released on their AECO label in 1978. It features performances by Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell, Malachi Favors Maghostut, and Don Moye along with Muhal Richard Abrams.

<i>Before There Was Sound</i> 2011 studio album by Roscoe Mitchell

Before There Was Sound is an album by American jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell recorded in 1965 but not issued until 2011 by Nessa Records. The album presents the earliest recordings available of the work of the AACM, taped shortly after the first meeting of the organization in May 1965 and approximately a year before Mitchell's debut album Sound. This quartet, with trumpeter Fred Berry, bassist Malachi Favors and drummer Alvin Fielder, had been working together for close to a year before they gathered at the instigation of Fielder in the studio of WUCB radio station. "Mr. Freddy" is dedicated to the trumpeter. "Jo Jar" is for Joseph Jarman.

<i>Hey Donald</i> 1995 studio album by Roscoe Mitchell

Hey Donald is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, recorded in 1994 and released on Delmark. It was the first recording by a quartet featuring pianist Jodie Christian, bassist Malachi Favors and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath. The album is dedicated to Earth Wind & Fire saxophonist Donald Myrick.

<i>Sunshine</i> (Sunny Murray album) 1969 studio album by Sunny Murray

Sunshine is an album by American free jazz drummer Sunny Murray, his third as a leader. It was recorded in Paris in August 1969, and released on the BYG Actuel label later that year. On the album, Murray is joined by Arthur Jones and Roscoe Mitchell on alto saxophone, Archie Shepp and Kenneth Terroade on tenor saxophone, Lester Bowie on trumpet, Dave Burrell on piano, and Malachi Favors and Alan Silva on bass.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Huey, S. Allmusic Review accessed September 27, 2011.
  2. ↑ Weiss, Ken (Jan–Mar 2017). "Alvin Fiedler [ sic ] - Maybe Not New But Something Different". Cadence Magazine . Portland, Oregon: Cadence Media LLC. 43 (1 (421)): 81. ISSN   0162-6973.
  3. ↑ Wilmer, Val (2018). As Serious As Your Life: Black Music and the Free Jazz Revolution 1957-1977. Serpent's Tail. p. 160. ISBN   978-1788160711.
  4. ↑ Wilmer, Val (2018). As Serious As Your Life: Black Music and the Free Jazz Revolution 1957-1977. Serpent's Tail. pp. 160–161. ISBN   978-1788160711.
  5. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). "Roscoe Mitchell". The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (9th ed.). New York: Penguin. p. 1011. ISBN   978-0-14-103401-0.
  6. ↑ Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 142. ISBN   0-394-72643-X.
  7. ↑ Kelsey, C. Free Jazz: A Subjective History accessed December 7, 2009
  8. ↑ Sharp, Elliott (November 15, 2012). "Ten Free Jazz Albums to Hear Before You Die". Village Voice. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
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.