Spirit Catcher (album)

Spirit Catcher is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith which was recorded in 1979 and released on Nessa Records.[1]

Spirit Catcher
Studio album by
Released1979
RecordedMay 21, 1979
StudioVan Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
GenreJazz
Length38:34 (LP)
49:47 (CD)
LabelNessa
ProducerChuck Nessa
Wadada Leo Smith chronology
Budding of a Rose
(1978)
Spirit Catcher
(1979)
Touch the Earth
(1980)

Background

Smith leads the New Dalta Akhri, a quintet with Dwight Andrews, Bobby Naughton, Wes Brown and Pheeroan akLaff, in two original compositions: "Images" and "Spirit Catcher". In addition, Smith prepared a very unusual piece for muted trumpet and three harps: "The Burning of Stones", a composition dedicated to Anthony Braxton with elements of two traditions involving harp-like instruments, the West African kora and the Japanese koto.[2][3] The 2009 CD reissue adds an alternate version of this piece.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[5]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide[6]

In his review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow states "This is thought-provoking music that grows in interest with each listen."[4] The All About Jazz review by Clifford Allen says "Recorded crisply by Rudy Van Gelder (unlike the somewhat murky Kabell LPs), Spirit Catcher presents Smith's earlier music with clarity and warmth."[7]

Track listing

All compositions by Wadada Leo Smith
  1. "Images" - 19:09
  2. "The Burning of Stones" - 9:42
  3. "Spirit Catcher" - 9:43

Bonus track on CD

  1. "The Burning of Stones" first version - 11:13

Personnel

References

  1. "Wadada Leo Smith discography". Jazz Lists. jazzlists.com. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  2. Original liner notes by Robert Palmer
  3. Spirit Catcher at Nessa Records
  4. Yanow, Scott. Wadada Leo Smith - Spirit Catcher: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  5. Larkin, Colin. "The Encyclopedia of Popular Music". p. 4997. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  6. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 183. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
  7. Allen, Clifford. Spirit Catcher review at All About Jazz
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