The Life of a Song (Geri Allen album)

Last updated
The Life of a Song
The Life of a Song (Geri Allen album).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 24, 2004
RecordedJanuary 16–17, 2004
Studio Avatar Studio C, New York City
Genre Jazz
Length65:23
Label Telarc CD-83598
Producer Elaine Martone & Geri Allen
Geri Allen chronology
The Gathering
(1998)
The Life of a Song
(2004)
Timeless Portraits and Dreams
(2006)

The Life of a Song is an album by pianist Geri Allen, recorded in 2004 and released on the Telarc label. [1]

Contents

The album reunited Allen with drummer Jack DeJohnette and bassist Dave Holland; they had previously performed together on vocalist Betty Carter's live 1993 album, Feed the Fire . [2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [4]

AllMusic stated: "This is a trio date that has all the elements: an indefatigable lyricism and honesty of emotion, as well as beautiful colors and deft, even uncanny engagements among the three principals. What a welcome return for Allen, who expertly displays she's been refining her chops and listening deeply to her Muse these past six years". [3] The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded it 4 stars, calling it "a graceful mixture of originals and standards that not only reference past performances but create a shimmering unity of sound that one can readily imagine hovering in the ether long after the record is over". [4]

JazzTimes stated: "Although Geri Allen's versions of standards are marvelously performed, it is her originals that distinguish The Life of a Song. She's writing fresh, distinctive songs that are made even better when performed by a master trio". [5]

Track listing

All compositions by Geri Allen except as indicated

  1. "LWB's House (The Remix)" - 5:52
  2. "Mounts and Mountains" - 8:05
  3. "Lush Life" (Billy Strayhorn) - 8:11
  4. "In Appreciation: A Celebration Song" - 6:09
  5. "The Experimental Movement" - 7:09
  6. "Holdin' Court" - 4:39
  7. "Dance of the Infidels" (Bud Powell) - 4:03
  8. "Unconditional Love" - 5:16
  9. "The Life of a Song" - 5:23
  10. "Black Bottom" - 4:29
  11. "Soul Eyes" (Mal Waldron) - 5:40

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Homecoming</i> (Gateway album) 1995 studio album by Gateway

Homecoming is the third album by jazz trio Gateway, consisting guitarist John Abercrombie, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette, recorded in December 1994 and released on ECM—the trio's first release since Gateway 2 (1978).

<i>Feed the Fire</i> (Betty Carter album) 1994 live album by Betty Carter

Feed the Fire is a 1994 live album by the American jazz singer Betty Carter. The album was recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall during Carter's European tour. It was Carter's first live album since 1990's Droppin' Things, and her only album recorded outside of the United States.

<i>Black Beauty: Miles Davis at Fillmore West</i> 1973 live album by Miles Davis

Black Beauty: Miles Davis at Fillmore West is a live double album by American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader Miles Davis. It was recorded on April 10, 1970, at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, shortly after the release of the trumpeter's Bitches Brew album and the recording of Jack Johnson (1971). Black Beauty was produced by Teo Macero, Davis' longtime record producer. A jazz-rock and fusion album, Black Beauty captured one of Davis' first performances at a rock venue during the early stages of his electric period. At the concert, he led his band—saxophonist Steve Grossman, bassist Dave Holland, keyboardist Chick Corea, drummer Jack DeJohnette, and percussionist Airto Moreira—through one continuously performed set list which functioned as a musical suite for soloists to improvise throughout. He signaled changes from one piece to the next with phrases played on his trumpet.

<i>Changes</i> (Keith Jarrett album) 1984 studio album by Keith Jarrett

Changes is an album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded over two days in January 1983 and released on ECM September the following year. The trio features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette, the second release by the long-standing "Standards Trio", the first three of which—Standards, Vol. 1 (1983), Changes and Standards, Vol. 2 (1985)—were all recorded concurrently.

<i>Sorcery</i> (Jack DeJohnette album) 1974 studio album by Jack DeJohnette

Sorcery is an album by Jack DeJohnette featuring Bennie Maupin, John Abercrombie, Mick Goodrick, Dave Holland and Michael Fellerman recorded in 1974 and released on the Prestige label. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow states, "A lot of rambling takes place on this interesting but erratic CD reissue... While one admires DeJohnette's willingness to take chances, this music has not dated well".

<i>Gateway 2</i> 1978 studio album by Gateway

Gateway 2 is the second album by Gateway, recorded in July 1977 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features guitarist John Abercrombie and rhythm section Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette.

<i>Gateway</i> (Gateway album) 1976 studio album by Gateway

Gateway is the debut album by jazz trio Gateway recorded in March 1975 and released on ECM the following year. The trio consists guitarist John Abercrombie, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette.

<i>In the Moment</i> (Gateway album) 1996 studio album by Gateway

In the Moment is the fourth album by jazz trio Gateway, consisting guitarist John Abercrombie, bassist Dave Holland and drummer Jack DeJohnette, recorded in December 1994 and released on ECM in 1996.

<i>The Out-of-Towners</i> (album) 2004 live album by Keith Jarrett

The Out-of-Towners is a live album by the jazz trio of Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack DeJohnette, recorded at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich on July 28, 2001 and released on ECM in August 2004.

<i>Still Live</i> (Keith Jarrett album) 1988 live album by the Keith Jarrett Trio

Still Live is a live double album by the Keith Jarrett Trio recorded on July 13, 1986, at the Philharmonic Hall in Munich, Germany, and released on ECM in March 1988. Jarrett's Standards trio features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette.

<i>Tokyo 96</i> 1998 live album by Keith Jarrett

Tokyo '96 is a live album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett recorded at the Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo on March 30, 1996 and released on ECM in April 1998. The trio—Jarrett's "Standards Trio"—features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette.

<i>Whisper Not</i> (Keith Jarrett album) 2000 live album by Keith Jarrett

Whisper Not is a live double-album by Keith Jarrett, recorded at the Palais des congrès de Paris on July 5, 1999 and released on ECM October the following year. The trio—Jarrett's "Standards Trio"—features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette.

<i>Inside Out</i> (Keith Jarrett album) 2001 live album by Keith Jarrett

Inside Out is a live album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett, recorded at the Royal Festival Hall in London on July 26 & 28, 2000 and released on ECM October the following year. The trio—Jarrett's "Standards Trio"—features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette. Along with Changes (1983) and Changeless (1987), this was the trio's third album to feature mainly original improvised material.

<i>Always Let Me Go</i> 2002 live album by Keith Jarrett / Gary Peacock / Jack DeJohnette

Always Let Me Go: Live in Tokyo is a live double album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett, recorded at the Bunkamura Orchard Hall and Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in Japan in April 2001 and released on ECM October the following year. The trio—Jarrett's "Standards Trio"—features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette.

<i>My Foolish Heart</i> (Keith Jarrett album) 2007 live album by Keith Jarrett / Gary Peacock / Jack DeJohnette

My Foolish Heart is a live double album by American jazz pianist Keith Jarrett, recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on July 22, 2001 and released on ECM six years later in October 2007. The trio—Jarrett's "Standards Trio"—features rhythm section Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette.

<i>Triplicate</i> (Dave Holland album) 1988 studio album by Dave Holland Trio

Triplicate is a studio album by the Dave Holland Trio, recorded in March 1988 and released on ECM later that year. The trio features alto saxophonist Steve Coleman and drummer Jack DeJohnette.

<i>Live at the Village Vanguard</i> (Geri Allen album) 1991 live instrumental album

Live at the Village Vanguard is a live album by pianist Geri Allen, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian. It was recorded in 1990 at the Village Vanguard and released on the Japanese DIW label.

<i>Segments</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Geri Allen, Charlie Haden & Paul Motian

Segments is a jazz album by pianist Geri Allen, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian recorded in 1989 and released on the Japanese DIW label.

<i>In the Year of the Dragon</i> 1989 studio album by Geri Allen, Charlie Haden & Paul Motian

In the Year of the Dragon is an album by pianist Geri Allen, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Paul Motian recorded in 1989 and released on the German JMT label.

<i>Some Aspects of Water</i> 1997 live album by Geri Allen

Some Aspects of Water is a live album by pianist Geri Allen recorded in 1996 in Denmark at concerts celebrating her award of the 1996 Jazzpar Prize and released on the Storyville label.

References

  1. Geri Allen catalog, accessed June 29, 2014
  2. Ouellette, Dan (10 July 2004). "Jazz Notes". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 16. ISSN   0006-2510.
  3. 1 2 Jurek, T., AllMusic Review accessed June 28, 2014
  4. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD . The Penguin Guide to Jazz (8th ed.). London: Penguin. pp.  22. ISBN   0141023279.
  5. Wynn, R., JazzTimes Review, September 2004