Sanctuary (album)
| Sanctuary | ||||
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| Larry Willis' studio album | ||||
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Publication |
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| Label (s) | Mapleshade Records | |||
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Format (s) |
CD |
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Title (number) |
8th |
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running time |
50:01 |
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| occupation |
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Larry Willis, Pierre Sprey |
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Studio (s) |
Maryland Studios, Leesburg, Virginia |
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Sanctuary is a jazz album by pianist Larry Willis . The recordings, which were made on January 29 and September 24, 2002, were released in 2003 by Mapleshade Records .
background
In his capacity as musical director for the Mapleshade label, Larry Willis had repeatedly brought musicians together; in addition, the pianist has often recorded for the studio. On the production of Sanctuary (which he recorded with Joe Ford , Ray Codrington , Steve Novosel and Steve Berrios, among others ), Willis also showed his inclination for spiritual music in his compositions and arrangements. Pieces like “Good Friday” and “A Balm in Gilead,” performed in trio format with strings, express Willis's religious beliefs and also his deep connection with African American culture . "In fact, many of Sanctuary's titles express a similarly contemplative mood while also offering an examination of American musical and cultural history," wrote Franz A. Matzner. As an example, he cites the solo piano piece “Were You There,” based on a hymn Willis sang when he was a child in a Baptist church in Harlem, such as the opening piece “ The Maji,” which Willis' linear notes suggest , introducing a rhythm from which it came: An old Harlem dance performed when it was a child.
Track list
- Larry Willis: Sanctuary (Maplaeshade 09932)
- The Maji (L. Willis) 5:53
- Sanctuary (L. Willis) 8:30
- Good Friday (L. Willis) 4:10
- Brother Ed (L. Willis) 6:11
- A Balm in Gilead (Traditional) 6:14
- Thank You, Lord (R. Codrington) 9:22
- Were You There? (Traditional) 6:31
- Fallen Hero (L. Willis) 3:10
reception
According to Franz A. Matzner, who reviewed the album in All About Jazz , this is “a very consistent album that produces a gently searching tone.” Steve Berrios provides an even, subtle rhythmic background, with his cymbal and tom -Tones sound particularly melodic and warm. “Steve Novosel's clear bass lines pulsate gently behind Joe Ford's lush saxophone sound and Ray Codrington's steady trumpet. Of course, in the meantime, Willis builds up composed, almost gloomy moods with his level-headed phrasing. "
The Sanctuary album does not allow “the listener to be blown up with hard force or to travel into the stratospheres of the modern giants”, the author continues. But it's also not typical smooth jazz . The warmth of the album certainly suggests a conservative's nostalgic tendency, but the music has a lot more to offer. "With the support of the Mapleshade studios, Willis has created a beautiful series of highly personal works that quietly address issues of peace, mourning, and spiritual transformation."
Harvey Sider ( JazzTimes ) pointed out that most of the tracks on the album were written by Willis; together they would have either religious titles or religious dedications. “But this thematic conception (with the exception of the traditional“ A Balm in Gilead ”which is sung) would never have been known if you had listened to the album in a blindfold test .” The result is that Willis is an incredibly talented composer for Strings, a hard swinging pianist and, as a composer, a good mood creator. Willis surrounded himself with first-class talent for these recordings. and the string ensemble around Rick Schmidt also remains in harmony.
Web links
- Reviews of the album on Larry Willis' homepage
- Listing of the album on Allmusic (English). Retrieved October 3, 2019.
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c Franz A. Matzner: Larry Willis: Sanctuary. All About Jazz, August 25, 2003, accessed October 4, 2019 .
- ↑ Larry Willis Sanctuary at Discogs
- ↑ Mike Joyce: Larry Willis: Sanctuary. JazzTimes, January 1, 2004, accessed October 3, 2019 .