| Smith, Wadada Leo / Ten Freedom Summers |
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| Album: | Ten Freedom Summers | Collection: | Jazz | |
| Artist: | Smith, Wadada Leo | Added: | Aug 2012 | |
| Label: | Cuneiform Records | |||
| A-File Activity |
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| Add Date: | 2012-08-12 | Pull Date: | 2012-10-14 | Charts: | Jazz |
| Week Ending: | Oct 14 | Oct 7 | Sep 30 | Sep 2 | Aug 26 | Aug 19 |
| Airplays: | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Recent Airplay
| 1. | Jan 22, 2018: | In Your Ear Radio - Rolling Out of Slumberland into Radioland America, Parts 1, 2 & 3 | 4. | Dec 18, 2017: | In Your Ear Radio - birthYaY!, Wadada! The Freedom Riders Ride, Rosa Parks And The Montgomery Bus Boycott, 381 Days, Dred Scott: 1857 | |
| 2. | Jan 15, 2018: | In Your Ear Radio - Thank You MLK! Martin Luther King, Jr.: Memphis, The Prophecy, Freedom Summer: Voter Registration, Acts Of Compassion And Empowerment, 1964, Black Church, Rosa Parks And The Montgomery Bus Boycott, 381 Days | 5. | Oct 11, 2012: | Love Den Malik Al Shabazz And The People Of The Shahada | |
| 3. | Dec 30, 2017: | In Your Ear Radio - A New Year, Here We Come 2018! Pt. 2 Dred Scott: 1857 | 6. | Oct 05, 2012: | No Cover, No Minimum Democracy |
| Album Review |
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| Fo Reviewed 2012-08-11 | ||
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WADADA LEO SMITH: Ten Freedom Summers Cuneiform, 2012 AVANT-GARDE – Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith presents his magnum opus, a deep, huge, powerful collection of 19 pieces composed over a 34-year span. The work commemorates the heroes and milestones of the black civil rights movement, from the age of slavery to the present. Smith’s Golden Quartet and Quintet are joined by/alternate with Southwest Chamber Music, a nine-member modern classical ensemble. Smith’s horn is either hot and slicing or calm and chilly against heavy two-drummer surges or tense group improvisation, and the chamber sections can be somber, aching or spiky. You can go to any point in these four CDs and find something of value. Just listen. Fo’s Picks: I – 1,2 II – 1,2,3 III – 2,4,5 IV – 1,2,4 DISC ONE 1. 11:49 – quintet: trumpet cuts thru turbulent chaos, very strong piano as well 2. 5:15 – quiet quintet: serene trumpet, lots of space, bowed bass solo 3. 18:03 – a mix of mournful and defiant, slowly paced with aching strings 4. 15:06 – a slow & bluesy march; trumpet soars, quintet falls to near-silence 5. 22:08 – chamber ensemble: juxtaposes rhythmic drama & pained harmony DISC TWO 1. 12:44 – quartet: spiritual intro, then struggle and firm resolve, serene end 2. 16:36 – chamber ensemble: moving string layers, thrusts, dissonant slides 3. 12:35 – quintet: very open feel, picks up walking rhythm, fine piano & drums 4. 24:13 – chamber ensemble: rises from below, a series of striking tableaux DISC THREE 1. 16:41 – quartet: rising optimism, chaos, emptiness; solos for everybody 2. 10:07 – chamber ensemble: alternately tender and knotty/convoluted 3. 12:18 – stark quartet: acid trumpet, lots of silent moments 4. 15:04 – quartet: strong bass, open improv sprawl, quiet, huge drum solo 5. 13:50 – full group goes all over: stark layers, dark shades, clashing rhythms DISC FOUR 1. 14:11 – quartet: forceful w/heavy drums, tender middle section, back to start 2. 9:39 – slow and solemn with forceful trumpet, switches to a spiritual feel 3. 8:36 – quintet: trumpet thrusts boldly forward over amorphous backing 4. 14:31 – quintet: solid improv feel, a sarcastic sneer, strong performances 5. 20:35 – full group: a sprawling, imposing modernistic suite unto itself; heavy [ Fo ] - 11 August 2012 | ||
| Track Listing |
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