Spirit House | ||||
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Live album by | ||||
Released | 2001 | |||
Recorded | March 30, 2000 | |||
Venue | UMASS, Amherst, Massachusetts | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 73:52 | |||
Label | Eremite | |||
Producer | Michael Ehlers | |||
Jemeel Moondoc chronology | ||||
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Spirit House is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, which was recorded live in 2000 at the Magic Triangle Jazz Series organized by the University of Massachusetts Amherst and released on the Eremite label. [1] It was the debut recording by the Jus Grew Orchestra, a large ensemble founded by Moondoc in the early 80s. For this concert Moondoc studied Butch Morris's conduction techniques of guided improvisation with hand gestures. Morris was the original conductor of the band. [2]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [4] |
In his review for AllMusic, Steve Loewy states "Some listeners may be reminded of some of Henry Threadgill's non-electric, early group efforts, which combined quirky melodies with non-swinging bursts of flaming brass. Moondoc translates the concept to a larger structure, with his own individual stamp and raucous ensemble writing." [3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes that the live sound is inadequate, but says "This is a bustling, often teeming music, brought vividly to life and, given a full and flattering sound, the tremendous blow-out of 'Spirit House' itself would really shake the timbers." [4]
In a double review for JazzTimes , Daniel Piotrowski also remarks the deficient sound mix, but states "The band is handed great compositions and make the most of them by changing speeds adeptly, without making the music seem too hectic. The 26-minute title track is an excellent example of the agile band, which joins together for brief interludes and then passes the baton from soloist to soloist." [5]
Steve Swell is an American free jazz trombonist, composer, and educator.
Jemeel Moondoc was a jazz saxophonist who played alto saxophone. He was a proponent of a highly improvisational style.
First Feeding is the debut album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc with the Ensemble Muntu, which was recorded in 1977 and released on his own Muntu label. The album was reissued in 2009 as part of the three-CD box Muntu Recordings on the Lithuanian NoBusiness label.
Konstanze's Delight is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, which was recorded live at the Third Street Music School in 1981 and released on the Italian Soul Note label. He leads a sextet that features Muntu's members Roy Campbell on trumpet and William Parker on double bass, occasional members Khan Jamal on vibraphone and Ellen Christi on wordless vocals, and Denis Charles on drums.
We Don't is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc with drummer Denis Charles, which was recorded in 1981 but not issued until 2003 by the Eremite label. The title track is a traditional Caribbean tune.
Tri-P-Let is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, which was recorded in 1996 and became the first release on the Eremite label. It was Moondoc's first recording since 1985. He leads a trio with two Boston based musicians: bassist John Voigt and drummer Laurence Cook. "Triplet" is an extension of the album Judy's Bounce. "Another One the Hard Way" is dedicated to Ornette Coleman, while "Campbell’s Soup" is named after trumpeter Roy Campbell. "Ruby Riches" has the same scale as John Coltrane used in his song "Dear Lord".
Fire in the Valley is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, which was recorded live at the Fire in the Valley Festival in 1996 and released on the Eremite label. He leads a trio with bassist John Voigt and drummer Laurence Cook, the same lineup as the previous studio album Tri-P-Let.
New World Pygmies is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc and bassist William Parker, which was recorded live at the Fire in the Valley Festival in 1998 and released on the Eremite label. It was Moondoc's first recorded encounter with Parker since Nostalgia in Times Square. "Another Angel Goes Home" is a tribute to drummer Denis Charles.
Revolt of the Negro Lawn Jockeys is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, which was recorded live at the 2000 Vision Festival and released on the Eremite label. It was a reunion with vibraphonist Khan Jamal, who recorded with Moondoc before on the album Konstanze's Delight. The quintet also features Nathan Breedlove on trumpet, John Voigt on bass and Codaryl Moffett on drums.
Live in Paris is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, which was recorded in 1999 at the Banlieues Bleues Festival, in the northern suburbs of Paris, and released on Cadence Jazz. His All-Stars quintet features two longtime associates: trumpeter Roy Campbell and bassist William Parker, and two members of the Jus Grew Orchestra: saxophonist Zane Massey and drummer Cody Moffett. It was the first of Moondoc's small group releases with another saxman.
Live at the Vision Festival is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, which was recorded live at the 2001 Vision Festival and released on Ayler Records, a Swedish label founded by Jan Ström and Åke Bjurhamn. It was the second recording by the Jus Grew Orchestra, a large ensemble founded by Moondoc in the early 80s.
Live at Glenn Miller Café Vol 1 is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, which was recorded in Stockholm and released on Ayler Records, a Swedish label founded by Jan Ström and Åke Bjurhamn. Moondoc leads a trio with bassist William Parker and drummer Hamid Drake. The rhythm section had recorded the studio album ...and William Danced a few hours earlier with local saxophonist Anders Gahnold.
New World Pygmies vol. 2 is a double album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc and bassist William Parker, which was recorded live in 2000 and released on the Eremite label. The first disc documents a duo performance from Madison, while the second includes guest drummer Hamid Drake from a Chicago set at the Velvet Lounge.
The Zookeeper's House is an album by American jazz saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc, which was recorded in 2013 and released on Relative Pitch Records. It was his first album leading a full band in over a decade.
This Now! is an album by American jazz trombonist Steve Swell, which was recorded live in 2001 and released on Cadence Jazz. He leads the Unified Theory of Sound, a sextet with Jemeel Moondoc on alto sax, Matt Lavelle on trumpet, Cooper-Moore on piano, Wilber Morris on bass and Kevin Norton on drums.
Eremite Records is an independent American jazz record label founded in 1995 by Michael Ehlers with early involvement from music writer Byron Coley. After college, Ehlers started producing some concerts around Amherst, Massachusetts and Eremite evolved from that. The label name came from an alternate title for the Thelonious Monk tune "Reflections": "Portrait of an Eremite". The logo is an image of Joe McPhee playing soprano saxophone. Eremite organized a concerts series in Western Massachusetts that continued until 2008 & produced nearly 100 concerts, including five Fire in the Valley festivals.
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.
Captain of the Deep is an album by American jazz drummer Denis Charles, which was recorded live in 1991 at the Zuid-Nederlands Jazz Festival and released in 1998 on the Eremite label.
John Blum is an American jazz pianist and composer.
Papa's Bounce is an album by Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, a jazz band formed by percussionist Kahil El'Zabar, who is joined by trombonist Joseph Bowie, saxophonist Ernest Dawkins and percussionist 'Atu' Harold Murray. It was recorded in 1998 and released on CIMP.