Poem for Malcolm

Last updated
Poem for Malcolm
Poem for Malcolm.jpg
Studio album by
Released1969
RecordedAugust 14, 1969
(Paris, France)
Genre Free Jazz
Label BYG Actuel
SNAP 162 CD (CD re-issue)
Producer Jean Georgakarakos, Jean-Luc Young
Archie Shepp chronology
Yasmina, a Black Woman
(1969)
Poem for Malcolm
(1969)
Blasé
(1969)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Poem for Malcolm is a jazz album by Archie Shepp. Recorded in Paris in August 1969 only two days after Yasmina, a Black Woman , it again features musicians from the Art Ensemble of Chicago. This time, the tone is resolutely set to avant garde and free jazz, with a political edge in the all but explicit tribute to Malcolm X. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow states: "This LP from the English Affinity LP is a mixed bag. Best is 'Rain Forrest' on which tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp, in a collaboration with trombonist Grachan Moncur III, pianist Vince Benedetti, bassist Malachi Favors, and drummer Philly Joe Jones, perform some stirring free jazz; the interplay between Shepp and Jones is particularly exciting. On a four-and-a-half minute 'Oleo,' Shepp "battles" some bebop with fellow tenor Hank Mobley, but the other two tracks, a workout for the leader's erratic soprano on 'Mamarose,' and his emotional recitation on 'Poem for Malcolm,' are much less interesting, making this a less than essential release despite 'Rain Forrest'." [2] It was originally issued on CD by Affinity (paired with Yasmina, a Black Woman ) mastered from a vinyl source and later reissued by Charly (also paired with Yasmina, a Black Woman) from the original master tapes.

Contents

Track listing

  1. "Mamarose" (Shepp) – 7:12
  2. "Poem for Malcolm" (Shepp) – 5:55
  3. "Rain Forrest/Oleo" (Shepp/Sonny Rollins) – 19:16
Recorded: Paris, August 14, 1969.

Personnel

On "Rain Forrest/Oleo"

On "Mamarose" and "Poem for Malcolm"

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References

  1. "Archie Shepp – Poem for Malcolm", Allmusic review.
  2. Yanow, S. Allmusic review, accessed April 6, 2009.