Customer Reviews

Skies of America

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At last! This is one of the most insidious recordings I know of, creeping into your ear until you've succumbed to its unique charms. I'm not the biggest Ornette fan in the world, but 15 years ago a friend laid this on me. I never had a pristine vinyl copy, so I lived with the pops and crackles for all this time, waiting for the day it came out on CD.

It was worth it. Ornette is a surprisingly fine orchestrator, using his much-discussed harmelodic concept to fine effect with the full orchestra. The texture is long, floating melodies harmonized in parallel organum with a maniac tympanist blazing away on the bottom to keep the energy up. Ornette makes his appearance towards the end, ratcheting up the energy another notch.

The record company divided this into separate tracks in a futile attempt to get airplay. Don't believe it. It's a long, single entity, the best choice I know of for late-night driving on full moon nights with the top down, misterioso atmospheres swirling in the air. Dark, brooding, and deep stuff, highly recommended for those with the ears to hear.

Now if we can only get a release of the concert at Lincoln Center a few years ago where this composition was re-performed with different musicians and a different approach!

Back in the days immediately after the attacks of 9/11, National Public Radio began asking well known musical types what music they thought Americans should be listening to. They never got around to asking me, but this was my choice. It still is.

Skies of America is a very moving, very poignant, powerful work for symphony orchestra with solo interludes on this recording from Ornette. The hustle and bustle of daily life in America, as portrayed by the winds and percussion, contrasted by the ethereal, eternal nature of the skies above, as portrayed by the strings, brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to this album. The work as a whole is broken down into titled sections. Those with titles like "The Military" or "The Silver Screen" can sound chaotic, aggressive and confounding. Other sections like "Birthdays and Funerals", "Love Life" or "Sunday in America" feature music for strings that is simply breathtaking in its beauty. I find it difficult not to be affected by music of such a strong, emotional character.

It's a scandal that Ornette has never been recognized as a symphonic composer. Skies of America really belongs in modern classical repertoire. It eloquently speaks of a love for country far beyond the sort of militaristic nationalism we see all too often in public life.

It fits, too. Unease. Dissonance. Not very light. Dangerous. Occasionally grating. Hints of beauty that you have to work for. Pay attention to what's going on; see the grandeur and the gorgeousness under the surface. Ultimately, it's all worth it. It's a commentary ahead of its time. Reason enough to listen. Please do.

Some reviewer said that people fled the store where they played this great record while complaining about the racket...of course they did. This is not music to play while you are shopping (even if it's shopping at a record store). This is music to be appreciated in an ambience of tranquility and peace so you can really focus and inmerse your self deep within it's complex harmonic and melodic twists and turns. Excellent and highly recommended to those who stayed in the store.

this is a symphonic work composed by a jazz artist in the american symphonic tradition of charles ives and aaron copeland. where most symphonic composers include folk songs within their compositions, coleman in his skies includes references from his own previous work, most recognizibly is the theme from dancing in your head.

he makes evident he's a jazz artist by playing his alto, the first time in the composition, in the aptly entitled, the artist in america.

place in space is the quintessential theme for all space travel, actual and cinematic.

the men who live in the white house is a piece for solo alto sax, a tribute to the holders of america's highest office, metaphorically: a position high as the sky, one more american sky.

this is a marvelous piece of work, a great accomplishment. would that this symphonic work were performed more in concert halls.

This music is very dense. Some coworkers put this on in a record store during the last week we were open; people fled the store complaining about the racket!
I am not a fan of jazz; I do not understand this music. But while listening to it, one begins to feel a huge picture taking shape. I would recommend this as a challenge to the ears, but not for any musical quality.
I commented to the guy who put this on; "I don't think I understand what is happening in this music."
He replied,"The musicians aren't sure what's happening. That's part of the point."
3 stars because the music is awesome; but i still don't get it....

I loves me some Ornette Coleman, but this release leaves me wondering - WTF was on his mind.
The only beauty in this album is... It gives the album "Fly", by Yoko Ono, a run for it's money at clearing out a record store near closing time.
Stick to anything Ornette released on Atlantic Records and you can't go wrong.