Taboo (Ronald Shannon Jackson album)

Last updated
Taboo
Taboo (Ronald Shannon Jackson album).jpg
Studio album by
Released1990
Genre Jazz
Label Venture
Producer Bill Laswell, Ronald Shannon Jackson
Ronald Shannon Jackson chronology
Red Warrior
(1990)
Taboo
(1990)
Raven Roc
(1992)

Taboo is an album by the American musician Ronald Shannon Jackson. [1] [2] It was released by Venture Records in 1990. [3] Jackson supported the album with concert appearances in the UK. [4]

Contents

Production

Recorded in the mid-1980s, the album was coproduced by Bill Laswell. [5] [6] Vernon Reid played guitar on all of the tracks. [7] Jackson employed two bass players and a horn section. [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Calgary Herald C+ [10]
Robert Christgau B+ [11]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]

The Calgary Herald wrote that the "generous use of horns—and Vernon Reid's smooth guitar—keep it all together while Jackson teaches a lesson in what can be done with percussion." [10] The Edmonton Journal said that, "tight, up front, or in behind he is always trying something, maybe just in response to the bright Coleman-style discord of the band... Sax and guitar take their own stretch with a jazzy message." [8] Robert Christgau opined that the "first side's a suite that'll string you along but good—kind of like Mingus, so to speak." [11] The Los Angeles Times stated that "high horns playing Middle Eastern-tinged melodies over bubbling bass and limber, forceful drumming." [12] The Guardian praised the "deliciously full ensemble thrashes." [6]

In other media

"Challenge to Manhood" and "Taboo" appear on a mixtape compiled by the title character of the Alan Warner novel Morvern Callar . [14]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Mental Holiday"
  • a. "Vacating the Body"
  • b. "Ain't Supposed to Be"
  • c. "No Routines"
  • d. "Forgive Me"
  • e. "Be Back Shortly"
 
2."Taboo" 
3."Mothers and Sons" 
4."Challenge to Manhood" 
5."Little Things That Count" 

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References

  1. Milkowski, Bill (Mar 1991). "Taboo by Ronald Shannon Jackson / Red Warrior by Ronald Shannon Jackson". DownBeat. Vol. 58, no. 3. p. 31.
  2. Nicolson, Stuart (1990). Jazz, the Modern Resurgence. Simon & Schuster. p. 104.
  3. MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 600.
  4. Glanvill, Rick (May 25, 1990). "Jazz goes green". The Guardian. p. 35.
  5. "If you don't know Jackson". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Oct 10, 2004. p. 5D.
  6. 1 2 "The Hit List". The Guardian. Feb 9, 1990. p. 35.
  7. Gore, Joe (Jan 1991). "Noteworthy — Taboo by Ronald Shannon Jackson". Guitar Player. Vol. 25, no. 1. p. 130.
  8. 1 2 Levesque, Roger (9 Dec 1990). "Drummers hit mean momentum". Edmonton Journal. p. E10.
  9. "Taboo Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  10. 1 2 Obee, Dave (30 Aug 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F3.
  11. 1 2 "Ronald Shannon Jackson". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. 1 2 Snowden, Don (7 July 1991). "Charting Pop's Format Orphans". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 54.
  13. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 353.
  14. Burns, Jehnie I. (2021). Mixtape Nostalgia: Culture, Memory, and Representation. Lexington Books. pp. 71, 72.