| Vision Towards Essence | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Live album by | ||||
| Released | 21 August 2007 | |||
| Recorded | 11 September 1998 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 58:45 | |||
| Label | Pi Recordings | |||
| Producer | Muhal Richard Abrams & Yulun Wang | |||
| Muhal Richard Abrams chronology | ||||
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Vision Towards Essence is a live album of solo piano by Muhal Richard Abrams released on the Pi Recordings label in 2007.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz | |
The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek states "This is indeed one of the most important records ever released by this great man". [1] The Penguin Guide to Jazz wrote that "Part 1" "has tentative moments, areas of slow transition which are slightly dull on first hearing though their logic becomes clearer over time. The other two parts are flawless". [2]
Muhal Richard Abrams was an American educator, administrator, composer, arranger, clarinetist, cellist, and jazz pianist in the free jazz medium. He recorded and toured the United States, Canada and Europe with his orchestra, sextet, quartet, duo and as a solo pianist. His musical affiliations constitute a "who's who" of the jazz world, including Max Roach, Dexter Gordon, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Art Farmer, Sonny Stitt, Anthony Braxton, and The Art Ensemble of Chicago.
3 Compositions of New Jazz is the debut album by Anthony Braxton released in 1968 on the Delmark label. It features performances by Braxton, Leroy Jenkins and Leo Smith with Muhal Richard Abrams appearing on two tracks.
The Hearinga Suite is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1989 and features performances of seven of Abrams compositions by an eighteen-member orchestra. Abrams dedicated the music on the album to Steve McCall and Donald Raphael Garrett.
Family Talk is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1993 and features performances of six of Abrams compositions by Abrams, Jack Walrath, Patience Higgins, Brad Jones, Warren Smith and Reggie Nicholson.
Colors in Thirty-Third is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1987 and featuring performances of seven of Abrams' compositions by Abrams, John Blake, John Purcell, Dave Holland, Fred Hopkins and Andrew Cyrille.
Blues Forever is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams released by the Italian label Black Saint in 1982 and featuring performances of seven of Abrams compositions by an eleven-member big band.
Blu Blu Blu is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1991 and features performances of eight of Abrams compositions by a big band. Abrams dedicated the title track on the album to Muddy Waters.
Think All, Focus One is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams which was released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1995 and features performances of seven of Abrams' compositions by Abrams, Eddie Allen, David Gilmore, Eugene Ghee, Alfred Patterson, Brad Jones, and Reggie Nicholson.
Song for All is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams which was released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1997 and features performances of eight of Abrams' compositions by Abrams, Eddie Allen, Craig Harris, Eugene Ghee, Alfred Patterson, Brad Jones, and Reggie Nicholson.
Mama and Daddy is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams that was released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1980 and features performances of four of Abrams' compositions by a big band.
Levels and Degrees of Light is the debut album by Muhal Richard Abrams which was released on the Delmark label in 1968 and features performances of three of Abrams' compositions by Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Leroy Jenkins, Charles Clark, Gordon Emmanuel, Maurice McIntyre, Thurman Barker and Leonard Jones with vocals by Penelope Taylor and a poetry recitation by David Moore.
Young at Heart/Wise in Time is an album by pianist/composer Muhal Richard Abrams released by the Delmark label in 1970 that featured an LP side-length solo piano composition and Abrams accompanied by Leo Smith, Henry Threadgill, Lester Lashley and Thurman Baker on the other side.
1-OQA+19 is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1977 which features performances by Abrams, Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Steve McCall and Leonard Jones.
Spihumonesty is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams which was released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1979 and features performances by Abrams, George Lewis, Roscoe Mitchell, Amina Claudine Myers, Youseff Yancy and Leonard Jones with vocals by Jay Clayton.
Duet is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams featuring duet performances with Amina Claudine Myers which was released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1981.
View from Within is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1985 and featuring performances of six of Abrams' compositions by an octet.
Streaming is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams, George Lewis and Roscoe Mitchell released on the Pi Recordings label in 2006. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow states that "Decades have passed since the debut of these three musicians, yet they have lost nothing of their musical curiosity and desire to take risks. The enthusiastic interaction between pianist Muhal Richard Abrams and saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell with Lewis is the real reward of this esoteric outing". The Penguin Guide to Jazz noted that there were no discussions or preparations before the recording and that, with the exception of "Scrape", the performances showed a high level of interaction and empathy.
Afrisong is a solo piano album by Muhal Richard Abrams which was released on India Navigation and the Japanese Trio/Whynot label and features seven performances by Abrams recorded in Chicago in September 1975.
The Visibility of Thought is an album of contemporary classical compositions by Muhal Richard Abrams performed by various ensembles which was released on the Mutable Music label in 2001. The album features performances by Abrams, Jon Deak, Joseph Kubera, Mark Feldman, Thomas Buckner, the string quartet ETHEL and Phillip Bush.
As If It Were the Seasons is the second album by American jazz saxophonist Joseph Jarman, recorded in 1968 and released on the Delmark label.