| Speak Easy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2001 | |||
| Recorded | 2000 | |||
| Studio | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |||
| Genre | Free jazz | |||
| Length | 46:55 | |||
| Label | Le Systeme LS004 | |||
| Producer | James Duncan | |||
| Raphe Malik chronology | ||||
| ||||
Speak Easy is a solo trumpet album by Raphe Malik. It was recorded in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, during the spring of 2000, and was released in 2001 by the Canadian label Le Systeme. [1] [2]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [3] |
In a review for AllMusic, François Couture wrote: "Solo trumpet albums are not common and thus lovers and students of the instrument will be attracted to this release, especially since it is generally friendlier (because jazzier) than similar opuses by Wadada Leo Smith and Bill Dixon." However, he noted "annoying" and "inexcusable" issues with the recording quality. [1]
The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called the album "a rare and welcome chance" to hear the trumpeter in a solo context, and commented: "Malik avoids mere technical display. There are blues-based compositions, boppish heads and the occasional completely free-form idea." They praised "Odds Out" and "Cruise Control" as "stand-out tracks." [3]
A reviewer for All About Jazz stated: "For listeners curious about Malik in his undiluted form, this is a wonderful introduction. And anyone who's willing to involve themselves in the music will find the entire disc mesmerizing. But don't even think about using this as background music (or incendiary material), because that's not what it's all about." [4]
All compositions by Raphe Malik.
Dark to Themselves is a live album by Cecil Taylor recorded at the Ljubljana Jazz Festival, Yugoslavia, on June 18, 1976, and released on the Enja label. The album features Taylor on piano with alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons, tenor saxophonist David S. Ware, trumpeter Raphe Malik, and drummer Marc Edwards. The original LP release presented the music in edited form, while the CD reissue contains the complete performance, restoring sections that were previously excised.
Cecil Taylor Unit is an album by Cecil Taylor recorded in April 1978 and released on the New World label. The album features three performances by Taylor on piano with alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons, trumpeter Raphe Malik, violinist Ramsey Ameen, bassist Sirone and drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson. The album was recorded during the same sessions that produced 3 Phasis. Taylor is heard on a 96-key Bösendorfer piano about which he commented: it "will stop you cold if you're not ready."
3 Phasis is an album by Cecil Taylor recorded in April 1978 and released on the New World label. The album features three performances by Taylor with Raphe Malik, Jimmy Lyons, Ramsey Ameen, Sirone and Ronald Shannon Jackson. The album was recorded during the same sessions that produced the Cecil Taylor Unit.
One Too Many Salty Swift and Not Goodbye is a live album by Cecil Taylor recorded in Stuttgart, Germany, on June 14, 1978 and released on the Hat Hut label. The album features performances by Taylor with Raphe Malik, Jimmy Lyons, Ramsey Ameen, Sirone and Ronald Shannon Jackson. The album was originally released as a triple LP featuring the Cecil Taylor Unit performances then rereleased as a double CD with duets by Lyons & Malik and Ameen & Sirone and a solo by Shannon Jackson added and the titles changed to the performers for each track.
Wee Sneezawee is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jimmy Lyons recorded in 1983 for the Italian Black Saint label.
Last Set: Live at the 1369 Jazz Club is an album by American jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik recorded in 1984 but not issued until 2004 by the Boxholder label. The live set adds tenor saxophonist Frank Wright as special guest to the regular trio of Malik, bassist William Parker and drummer Syd Smart.
Sirens Sweet & Slow is an album by the American jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik, released in 1994 on Mapleshade's sublabel OutSounds. The album was recorded in three marathon sessions that resulted in enough music to fill at least four CDs. It was planned to put together two albums, but finally only the first one was issued emphasizing the ballad and lyrical side.
The Short Form is an album by American jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik, which was recorded live at the Fire in the Valley Festival in 1996 and released on the Eremite label. He leads a quartet with tenor saxophonist Glenn Spearman, bassist George Langford and drummer Dennis Warren.
ConSequences is an album by American jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik, which was recorded live at the 2nd Fire in the Valley Festival in 1997 and released on the Eremite label. He leads a quartet with tenor saxophonist Sabir Mateen, bassist William Parker and drummer Denis Charles in one of his last recorded performances.
Storyline is an album by American jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik featuring a trio with bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Codaryl "Cody" Moffett, which was recorded in 1999 and released on the Boxholder label.
Sympathy is an album by American jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik featuring a trio with multi-instrumentalist Joe McPhee and drummer Donald Robinson, which was recorded in 2002 and released on the Boxholder label.
Companions is an album by American jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik, which was recorded live at the 1998 Vision Festival during a Jimmy Lyons tribute and released on the Eremite label. Malik leads a quartet with the members of the Trio Hurricane: tenor saxophonist Glenn Spearman, bassist William Parker and drummer Paul Murphy.
Solo (Pisa) 1982 is a live album by composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton featuring a solo performance recorded in Italy in 1982 and first released on the Golden Years of New Jazz label in 2007.
Looking East: A Suite in Three Parts is a double album by American jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik featuring a quartet with reedman Sabir Mateen, bassist Larry Roland and drummer Codaryl "Cody" Moffett, which was released on the Boxholder label. The album documents a concert performance organized by the Boston Creative Music Alliance in 1999.
21st Century Texts is an album by American jazz trumpeter Raphe Malik, which was recorded live during the Workshop Freie Musik at The Akademie der Künste in Berlin, and released on the German FMP label. Malik reformed his quintet in 1989 with his old partner Glenn Spearman on tenor, Brian King Nelson on C-melody sax, Larry Roland on bass and Dennis Warren on drums. The ensemble toured Europe in 1991 for a series of four concerts.
Solo [3] is a solo album by American jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell which was recorded in 2003 and released on Mutable Music as a three CD set.
Taylor/Dixon/Oxley is a live album by pianist Cecil Taylor, trumpeter Bill Dixon, and drummer Tony Oxley. It was recorded on May 19, 2002 during the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville in Victoriaville, Quebec, and was released in 2002 by Les Disques Victo.
Berlin Abbozzi is an album by American jazz trumpeter Bill Dixon recorded at the "Podewil", the headquarters of the Kulturprojekte Berlin non-profit organisation, in 1999 and released in 2000 on the FMP label. The album features a two-part hour-long Dixon composition followed by a free improvisation. Dixon is heard on trumpet and flugelhorn, and is accompanied by Matthias Bauer and Klaus Koch on bass, and Tony Oxley on drums. This instrumental combination previously appeared on the Dixon albums November 1981, Vade Mecum, and Vade Mecum II.
Circles is a live album by pianist Marilyn Crispell. It was recorded at the 8th Festival International De Musique Actuelle De Victoriaville in Victoriaville, Canada in October 1990, and was released in 1991 by Les Disques Victo. On the album, Crispell is joined by saxophonists Oliver Lake and Peter Buettner, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Gerry Hemingway.
Alan Silva & the Sound Visions Orchestra is a live album by multi-instrumentalist Alan Silva. It was recorded in May 1999 at St. Nicholas of Myra Church in New York City during the annual Vision Festival, and was released in 2001 by Eremite Records. On the album, Silva is joined by a large ensemble known as the Sound Visions Orchestra.