Xenogenesis Suite | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 2008 | |||
Recorded | June 20, 2007 | |||
Studio | Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 50:42 | |||
Label | Firehouse 12 | |||
Producer | Nicole Mitchell | |||
Nicole Mitchell chronology | ||||
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Xenogenesis Suite is an album by American jazz flautist Nicole Mitchell with her Black Earth Ensemble, which was recorded in 2007 and released on Firehouse 12. The work was commissioned by Chamber Music America and premiered at Vision Festival XII in New York City. It was her first suite based on the Xenogenesis novels of American science fiction writer Octavia Butler. [1]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Down Beat | [3] |
In his review for AllMusic, François Couture states "Moving, intricate, and immediate, this album marks a paradigm shift in her work as a composer, toward a much more personal voice." [2]
The Down Beat review by Greg Burk notes "Though the intent is to prod rather than please, Mitchell’s dyspeptic horn harmonies possess a coarse beauty." [3]
The All About Jazz review by Troy Collins says "A surprisingly effective combination of disturbing surrealism delivered with raw emotion and lyrical experimentation, Xenogenesis Suite is an endlessly rewarding listen." [4]
The Penguin Jazz Guide observed "Mitchell has made a considerable splash with her Black Earth Ensemble, whose music is not so much a throwback to 40 years ago as a strong reminder of how much has moved forward in cultural politics. Some of the creative ethos is still the same though, and there is no mistaking the power in Mitchell's writing. ... The ensemble is tightly disciplined but still free to explore the dimensions of Mitchell's big ideas on their own individual terms". [5]
All compositions by Nicole Mitchell
Nicole Mitchell is an American jazz flautist and composer who teaches jazz at the University of Virginia. She is a former chairwoman of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).
Nice Guys is an album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago, recorded in May 1978 and released on ECM the following year—their debut for the label. The quintet features trumpeter Lester Bowie, saxophinists Joseph Jarman and Roscoe Mitchell and rhythm section Malachi Favors Maghostut and Famoudou Don Moye.
Among the People is a live album by the Art Ensemble of Chicago originally released in 1981 as an LP on the Greek Praxis label, and reissued on CD as Live in Milano on the Golden Years of New Jazz label in 2001.
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.
Tomeka Reid is an American composer, improviser, cellist, curator, and teacher.
Black Unstoppable is an album by American jazz flautist Nicole Mitchell, which was recorded in 2007 and released on Delmark. It was the fourth album by her Black Earth Ensemble and the first for Delmark after three recordings on Dreamtime, the label she established with David Boykin. According to Mitchell, this project features a diverse collection of songs that touch all sides of Great Black Music: avant-garde jazz, blues, R&B and soul. The group ranges in size from a quartet to a nonet.
Renegades is an album by American jazz flautist Nicole Mitchell, recorded in 2008 and released on Delmark. It was the first album by her Black Earth Strings, a band that brings African rhythms, contemporary sounds and swinging improvisation to a chamber music setting.
Awakening is an album by American jazz flautist Nicole Mitchell, which was recorded in 2011 and released on Delmark. She leads a quartet with guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Harrison Bankhead and drummer Avreeayl Ra. Although she's worked extensively with these musicians, the group played together for the first time just days before heading into the studio. Mitchell explained "With this quartet I tried to put the flute more out front as usual. I wanted to dig back into the old school jazz a bit and yet still make room to branch out into never-never land".
Aquarius is an album by American jazz flautist Nicole Mitchell, which was recorded in 2012 and released on Delmark. It was the debut of her ensemble Ice Crystal, a quartet with vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, bassist Josh Abrams and drummer Frank Rosaly. The last piece is a tribute to saxophonist Fred Anderson.
Intergalactic Beings is an album by American jazz flautist Nicole Mitchell with her Black Earth Ensemble, which was recorded in 2010 and released on FPE. The work was commissioned by the Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art and the album is the result of the live performance. It was her second suite based on the Xenogenesis novels of American science fiction writer Octavia Butler.
The Speed of Change is the second album by Loose Assembly, a quintet led by American jazz drummer Mike Reed featuring alto saxophonist Greg Ward, vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, cellist Tomeka Reid and bassist Josh Abrams. It was recorded in 2007 and released on 482 Music.
Joshua Abrams is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist who plays the double bass and guimbri.
Taylor Ho Bynum is a musician, composer, educator and writer. His main instrument is the cornet, but he also plays numerous similar instruments, including flugelhorn and trumpet.
Three Compositions is an album by American jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell which was recorded live at the occasion of Sant'Anna Arresi Jazz Festival 2009 and released on the French RogueArt label. Mitchell's scores are played by flautist Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble.
Solo [3] is a solo album by American jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell which was recorded in 2003 and released on Mutable Music as a three CD set.
8 O'Clock: Two Improvisations is an album by American saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell and vocalist Thomas Buckner which was recorded in 2000 and released on Mutable Music the following year.
Berlin Abbozzi is an album by American jazz trumpeter Bill Dixon recorded at the "Podewil", the headquarters of the Kulturprojekte Berlin non-profit organisation, in 1999 and released in 2000 on the FMP label. The album features a two-part hour-long Dixon composition followed by a free improvisation. Dixon is heard on trumpet and flugelhorn, and is accompanied by Matthias Bauer and Klaus Koch on bass, and Tony Oxley on drums. This instrumental combination previously appeared on the Dixon albums November 1981, Vade Mecum, and Vade Mecum II.
Bill Dixon with Exploding Star Orchestra is an album by American jazz trumpeter Bill Dixon and Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra. It was recorded at Electrical Audio studios in Chicago in 2007, and was released in 2008 on the Thrill Jockey label. The album features two versions of a composition by Dixon plus one by Mazurek.
Take Some Risks is a live album by multi-instrumentalist Alan Silva. It was recorded in November 1986 at La Galerie Maximilien Guiol in Paris, and was released in 1989 by the French label In Situ. On the album, Silva, on double bass, is joined by clarinetist Misha Lobko, violinist Bruno Girard, cellist Didier Petit, and percussionist Roger Turner. Although the musicians knew each other well prior to the performance, it was their first appearance as a quintet.
Empathetic Parts is a live album by Mike Reed's Loose Assembly. The group's third release, it was recorded on November 7, 2009, at the Umbrella Music Festival held at The Hideout in Chicago, and was issued on CD in 2010 by 482 Music. Led by drummer Reed, the group features saxophonist Greg Ward, cellist Tomeka Reid, vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, and double bassist Joshua Abrams, plus guest saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell.