Song for My Sister

Roscoe Mitchell (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 2, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Pi Recordings
• ASIN: B000068CZ8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #341,871 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Roscoe Mitchell's new Song for My Sister will surprise those who pigeonhole the multi-reed player and flutist as a "free jazz" improviser and not much more. A founding member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago and the equally influential Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Mitchell is often associated with the kind of bombastic free jazz that the Art Ensemble pioneered in the 1960s--but as the wonderfully varied Song for My Sister proves, that's not a fair categorization of his broad composing and improvising talents. Recorded with the Note Factory, Mitchell's nine- piece double-trio ensemble (two bassists, two drummers, two pianists), Song for My Sister opens with the lyrical title track, a swinging modal workout that wouldn't sound out of place on John Coltrane's Olé. From there Mitchell dips into several of his many musical personalities: "This," a beautiful chamber-music piece originally set to one of e.e. cummings's poems that utilizes Mitchell's bass and great bass recorders; the percussion-and-piano "The Megaplexian," which echoes Indonesian gamelan music; and some thrilling rides into free improvisation on "Sagitta" and "When the Whistle Blows." Song for My Sister certainly doesn't fit into the neat categories that mark many major-label jazz releases these days--a fact that both longtime and recent fans of Mitchell's nearly 40-year career will find heartening. --Ezra Gale

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant modern music, bridging "jazz" and "classical", August 27, 2002

By 

R. Hutchinson "autonomeus" (a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Song for My Sister (Audio CD)

Roscoe Mitchell, like Anthony Braxton, long ago obliterated the boundary between "jazz" and "classical" music. Since his first record, SOUND, Mitchell has been developing his innovative and personal sound world. On this new one with the Note Factory nonet, the journey continues, a worthy successor to the astounding NINE TO GET READY on ECM in '99 (see my review). Spencer Barefield on guitar and Jaribu Shahid on bass are still on board from the Sound Ensemble of the 70s and 80s, and Gerald Cleaver is also back from the '99 record on percussion, as is Craig Taborn on piano, while other players are new. The band is 2 drums, 2 bass, 2 pianos, sax, trumpet and guitar.

As on some earlier records of Roscoe's, formal compositions alternate with free improvisations -- "Sagitta," "When the Whistle Blows" and "The Inside of a Star" are the improvised pieces. The diverse compositions are what make this a brilliant record. "Song for My Sister" is the most conventional jazz piece, with a lovely melody. "The Megaplexian" utilizes a percussion instrument designed by Mitchell, along with piano. "this," "Step One, Two, Three" and "Wind Change" are the highlights of the album, and would fit seamlessly with a program of contemporary classical or "new music." Of course, the record ends with Roscoe's traditional funky number -- remember "Big Red Peaches" from NINE TO GET READY, or the AEC's "Odwalla Theme"?

This record reminds me of the Muhal Richard Abrams great record THINGS TO COME FROM THOSE NOW GONE in its diversity and clarity. One of the best of 2002, without a doubt.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These Cats Are Reaching!!!!, August 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Song for My Sister (Audio CD)

On this album Roscoe is going for it. He has his own
voice that is so strong , that it lingers throughout
the whole group. The trumpeter on the album has some
exceptionally strong chops as well!

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Sound, August 20, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Song for My Sister (Audio CD)

This CD contains a rich alternative to the normal everyday boring stuff. It's definitely worth a listen.