Stellar Pulsations / Three Composers

Last updated
Stellar Pulsations / Three Composers
Crispell Stellar Pulsations.jpg
Studio album by
Released1994
RecordedFebruary 11, 1992;
March 26, 1992;
July 10 and 13, 1992
StudioJordan Hall, NEC, Boston;
WGBH-FM, Boston;
WDR Cologne
Label Leo Records
CD LR 194

Stellar Pulsations / Three Composers is an album by pianist Marilyn Crispell on which she performs works written for her by composers Robert Cogan, Pozzi Escot, and Manfred Niehaus. [1] The Cogan work, "Costellar Pulsations," features Crispell with a second pianist, Ellen Polansky, and was recorded on February 11, 1992, at Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Escot's piece, "Mirabilis II," was performed by Crispell along with clarinetist Don Byron and drummer Gerry Hemingway, and was recorded on March 26, 1992, at Studio One, WGBH-FM in Boston. "Concerto for Marilyn," the composition by Niehaus, features Crispell as soloist with the WDR Radio Orchestra, conducted by David de Villiers, and was recorded on July 10 and 13, 1992, at the Grosser Sendesaal (Great Hall) of WDR Cologne. The album was released in 1994 by Leo Records. [2] [3]

Contents

Cogan's "Costellar Pulsations" involves the juxtaposition of an improvising pianist (Crispell) and one who performs from a notated score that uses mobile form (Polansky). [4] The composer stated: "Among musicians and listeners, composition and improvisation have become quasi-religious issues, with dogmatic absolutists on both sides of the fence. My personal folly is to try to reconnect the two." [4] The title of Escot's "Mirabilis II" is from a work by the medieval composer Hildegard of Bingen. [4] The score provides precise rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic notation, providing a framework for improvisation. [4] Niehaus's "Concerto for Marilyn" contains references to the Marx Brothers, and features a piano part that is a mix of notated and improvised music. [4] The orchestra part is fully notated. [4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [6]
Tom Hull – on the Web B [7]

In a review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek stated: "Crispell's playing, is, as always, even when restraining herself, exceptional: deep, solid, graceful." [5]

The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings awarded the album 4 stars, and wrote: "Though less likely to appeal to straight jazz fans, this is another beautiful record, and, in its way, another important stage in Crispell's development as an artist." [6]

Track listing

Costellar Pulsations (Robert Cogan)

  1. "Costellar Pulsations" – 12:12

Mirabilis II (Pozzi Escot)

  1. "First Movement" – 9:02
  2. "Second Movement" – 3:45
  3. "Third Movement" – 3:56

Concerto For Marilyn (Manfred Niehaus)

  1. "Part I: Chico" – 4:45
  2. "Part II: The Unhoused Tango" – 6:36
  3. "Part III: Concerto for Harpo" – 2:55
  4. "Part IV: Concerto to Provoke Groucho" – 9:40

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Giuffre</span> American jazz musician

James Peter Giuffre was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, and arranger. He is known for developing forms of jazz which allowed for free interplay between the musicians, anticipating forms of free improvisation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Byron</span> American composer and musician

Donald Byron is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist. He primarily plays clarinet but has also played bass clarinet and saxophone in a variety of genres that includes free jazz and klezmer.

<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">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.

Robert Cogan was an American music theorist, composer and teacher.

<i>Vignettes</i> (Marilyn Crispell album) 2007 studio album by Marilyn Crispell

Vignettes is a solo album by American jazz pianist Marilyn Crispell recorded in April 2007 and released on ECM later that same year.

<i>Amaryllis</i> (Marilyn Crispell album) 2001 studio album by Marilyn Crispell

Amaryllis is an album by American jazz pianist Marilyn Crispell recorded in February 2000 and released on ECM March the following year. The trio features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Paul Motian.

<i>Symbol Systems</i> 1995 studio album by Matthew Shipp

Symbol Systems is an album by American jazz pianist Matthew Shipp which was recorded in 1995 and became the first release on No More, a label founded by producer Alan Schneider. It was the first solo piano released by Shipp but was recorded five months after Before the World, a live performance which was released later.

<i>Quartet (Santa Cruz) 1993</i> 1997 live album by Anthony Braxton

Quartet 1993 is a double CD by American composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton recorded live in 1993 and released on the hatART label in 1997.

<i>Gaia</i> (Marilyn Crispell album) 1988 studio album by Marilyn Crispell

Gaia is an album by American jazz pianist Marilyn Crispell, which was recorded in 1987 and released on the English Leo label.

<i>Synthesis</i> (Reggie Workman album) 1986 live album by Reggie Workman

Synthesis is a live album by bassist/composer Reggie Workman. It was recorded on June 15, 1986, in Philadelphia, and was released by Leo Records later that year. On the album, Workman is joined by multi-instrumentalist Oliver Lake, pianist Marilyn Crispell, and drummer Andrew Cyrille. Workman, Lake, and Cyrille would later go to form the group known as Trio 3.

<i>And Your Ivory Voice Sings</i> 1985 studio album by Marilyn Crispell and Doug James

And Your Ivory Voice Sings is an album by pianist Marilyn Crispell and drummer Doug James. It was recorded at the Woodstock Recording Studio in Woodstock, N.Y. in March 1985, and was released later that year by Leo Records.

<i>Overlapping Hands: Eight Segments</i> 1991 live album by Marilyn Crispell and Irène Schweizer

Overlapping Hands: Eight Segments is a live album by pianists Marilyn Crispell and Irène Schweizer. It was recorded at the Workshop Freie Musik, Akademie der Künste in Berlin in June 1990, and was released in 1991 by FMP.

<i>Piano Duets</i> (Tuned & Detuned Pianos) 1992 live album by Marilyn Crispell and Georg Graewe

Piano Duets is a two-CD album by pianists Marilyn Crispell and Georg Graewe. Disc 1, titled "Tuned Pianos," was recorded live at the Ruhr Jazz Festival Bochum in Germany in October 1991, while disc 2, titled "Detuned Pianos," was recorded at the Ibach Piano Factory in Schwelm, Germany. The album was released in 1992 by Leo Records.

<i>Santuerio</i> 1993 live album by Marilyn Crispell

Santuerio is a live album by pianist Marilyn Crispell. It was recorded at Roulette in New York City in May 1993, and was released later that year by Leo Records. On the album, Crispell is joined by violinist Mark Feldman, cellist Hank Roberts, and drummer Gerry Hemingway.

<i>Quartet Improvisations, Paris 1986</i> 1987 live album by Marilyn Crispell

Quartet Improvisations, Paris 1986 is a live album by pianist Marilyn Crispell. It was recorded at Galerie Maximilien Guiol in Paris in November 1986 as part of an event titled "Decade de musique improvisee," and was released in 1987 by Leo Records. On the album, Crispell is joined by cellist Didier Petit, bassist Marcio Mattos, and percussionist Youval Micenmacher.

<i>Highlights from the Summer of 1992 American Tour</i> 1993 live album by Marilyn Crispell

Highlights from the Summer of 1992 American Tour is a live album by pianist Marilyn Crispell. It was recorded at four locations in the United States on dates ranging from November 1991 to April 1992, and was released in 1993 by Music & Arts. On the album, Crispell is joined by bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Gerry Hemingway.

<i>Red</i> (Marilyn Crispell and Stefano Maltese album) 2000 live album by Marilyn Crispell and Stefano Maltese

Red is a live album by pianist Marilyn Crispell and saxophonist Stefano Maltese. It was recorded at the A.S.A.M. Auditorium in Chiesa di San Pietro, Siracusa, Italy in September 1999, and was released in 2000 by the Black Saint label. The duo, with vocalist Giocondo Cilio, recorded the album Blue the following day.

<i>Collaborations</i> (Marilyn Crispell album) 2009 live album by Marilyn Crispell

Collaborations is a live album by pianist Marilyn Crispell. The first two tracks were recorded on October 23, 2004, at the "Perspectives 2004" event at the Culturen in Vasteras, Sweden, and feature Crispell in a quartet with Fredrik Ljungkvist on clarinet and saxophone, Palle Danielsson on bass, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums. The remaining three tracks were recorded on March 9, 2007 at the "Perspectives 2007" event at the same location, and feature the pianist in a quintet with Magnus Broo on trumpet, Lars-Goran Ulander on saxophone, Per Zanussi on bass, and Paal Nilssen-Love on drums. The album was released in 2009 by Leo Records.

<i>MGM Trio</i> 1996 live album by Marilyn Crispell, Gerry Hemingway, and Michael Moore

MGM Trio is an album by pianist Marilyn Crispell, drummer Gerry Hemingway, and reed player Michael Moore. Four tracks were recorded live at De Singel in Antwerp, Belgium on November 28, 1994, while the remaining tracks were recorded at Nevessa Studio in Saugerties, New York on December 23, 1995. The album, which features compositions by Moore, was released in 1996 by Ramboy Recordings. The trio is named after the players' first initials.

References

  1. "Stellar Pulsations/three Composers". Leo Records. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  2. "Stellar Pulsations / Three Composers". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  3. "The Marilyn Crispell Sessionography". bb10k. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Stellar Pulsations / Three Composers (liner notes). Marilyn Crispell. Leo Records. 1994. CD LR 194.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. 1 2 Jurek, Thom. "Stellar Pulsations / Three Composers". AllMusic. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1998). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books. p. 356.
  7. Hull, Tom. "Marilyn Crispell". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved March 28, 2022.