Sam Rivers: Celebration

[john williams]

I'm not much of a reviewer but here goes. There are barely any reviews of Sam Rivers later albums online which strikes me as odd for such an intelligent and multi-talented composer/soloist. This trio is superb with both Cole and Matthews doubling on various other instruments. This versatility helps to make this a particularly interesting trio for me. The three way reed explorations, Commemoration and Currents, are very impressive. Anyone who enjoyed 2001's Firestorm should enjoy this as well. It is different though: a minus for me would be that it has maybe one too many flute tracks, enjoyable though they are I prefer to hear Sam on soprano or tenor. I'm less keen on Laudation which seems to be flute overload for me after the previous track, those who enjoy flute will probably love it though. Sam's piano outings are some of the best I've heard, particularly track three, Observance, which might be the most impressive pieces on the disk and certainly my favorite Rivers piano track. I hope others will comment and say something more interesting than this as words for me cannot convey how much I admire Rivers. My own personal taste is suited to Sam's approach. Some freer artists tend to stay in that world exclusively, which of course is fine and I appreciate that too, but Sam will often break through with a sublimely lyrical theme or he will start out with one and get into some freer explorations but return to those exquisite passages he's such a master at. I'm not saying that Sam's approach is better at all but I appreciate it very much and it blows me away everytime. It's almost impossible to believe how much invention, control and power he still has. Great stuff.



September 27 & 28, 2003 / Jazz Bakery, Culver City, CA
Posi-Tone Records PR 8017 (CD) 2004

1. Recognition [7:03]
2. Commemoration [3:38]
3. Observance [7:51]
4. Clarion [8:27]
5. Declaration [4:57]
6. Currents [2:14]
7. Dedication [5:58]
8. Effusion [4:02]
9. Laudation [7:46]
10. Glimpse [12:01]
11. Heritage [4:42]
12. Appreciation [7:39]

Sam Rivers (tenor & soprano sax, flute, piano, Compositions)
Doug Mathews (bass, electric bass, bass clarinet)
Anthony Cole (drums, tenor sax, piano)

[john williams]

54 views and not a single response - not even one to tell me what a shit reviewer I am. I thought at least one or two people would be interested in Sam Rivers to at least say whether they like this record or another better or whatever. Oh well, it really is fruitless to try and get any jazz discussion going around here. Maybe Jon is right and "Jazz is dead".

[Robert de St. Loup]

I like that recording a lot, and I am fine with the flute quotient. It's been at least a year since I've heard it, so I can't add much detail, sorry!

[Xavier]

The best Jason Moran CD that I've heard is the one that he had Sam Rivers on. The best I've ever heard Brad Mehldau is when he played on the two Lee Konitz trio albums (with Charlie Haden). It's too bad both these pianists didn't record more often with the masters.

[Chris Kelsey]

I dug this record when I bought it some time back, although its not on my hard drive and I have no idea where it is now (my iPod is spoiling me!).

Sam is one of the masters, of course. I can't get enough of his Blue Notes from the '60s, esp. Fuchsia Swing Song. And he burned on Miles' Live in Tokyo--an album I heard for the first time fairly recently, when I dl'd it from iTunes.

Speaking of Miles, as great as that band with Shorter was, Davis did posterity a favor by using several different saxophones during that '60s epoch. I just love the distinctly different sounds the band has with Rivers, Sonny Stitt, and George Coleman (am I forgetting somebody?). Miles was the gift that keeps giving.

[john williams]

Thanks for the responses folks. I'm guilty myself of forgetting how great Rivers is and not playing his stuff enough. I really love this trio and will try and get everything they've released.

Does anyone here have any of his Rivbea Orchestra recordings. I do prefer small group jazz but wouldn't mind sampling at least one of these. Any suggestions?

[Dick Bowman]

My reaction to the Rivbea recordings I've heard has been frustration - he seems to try to cram everything into short timeframes (there are allusions to "these are all cut-down versions of 50-minute pieces").

That's the original "Winds Of Manhattan" recording and the "all-star" CDs of a few years ago. Haven't heard the Florida band's CD, but did catch them at the Vision Festival a couple of years back (wasn't overwhelmed). I think what I'm hearing is the individuality and freedom of expression being squeezed out by brevity - and that's a personal reaction.

One that I do like (that's labelled "Rivbea Orchestra") is from a 1982 concert in East Berlin with a mid-sized group where they do stretch out (Repertoire Records RR 4910-CC - dubious provenance and I think long-disappeared).

I would like to hear the full-length performances that Rivers alludes to one day...

[Tom Marcello]

Here's a photo of Sam Rivers and Joe Daley at Studio Rivbea, July 1976:

[Chris Kelsey]

As much as I admire Rivers' artistry as a composer for large groups, I have a general small-group bias that applies to his work, as well.

[Darryl G. Thomas]

John,

Just to prove I'm paying attention I went out and ordered "Celebration" (along with "Vistas") just because of your review.

I've been a Rivers fan since the '70s. I was introduced to his music while serving in the Army in Augsburgh, Germany just when I was getting deep into jazz. So he's part of my music maturation.

[john williams]

Originally Posted by Darryl G. Thomas

John,

Just to prove I'm paying attention I went out and ordered "Celebration" (along with "Vistas") just because of your review.

I've been a Rivers fan since the '70s. I was introduced to his music while serving in the Army in Augsburgh, Germany just when I was getting deep into jazz. So he's part of my music maturation.

I recently bought Vistas but have only heard it once. I'll revisit soon - there are some fantastic tenor parts iirc. Or at least it seemed to have more tenor then Firestorm or Celebration.

I hope you enjoy both. Sam is one of my all time favorite jazz artists and I tend to enjoy all his small group releases. I think I slightly enjoy the Firestorm/Celebration trio over the Vistas trio but like I said I've only played Vistas once.

Thanks Dick and Chris. This is what I thought. I heard a sample of the big band material on Sam's site and wasn't impressed. I didn't like Crystals too much either.

I recently ordered Winter Garden, a duo date with Tony Hymas. Anyone heard it? There are a number of good reviews floating about. It does suprise me how often Sam's releases are completely overlooked by reviewers.

[willfb]

I don't know "Celebration" but recently bought "Firestorm" by the same band. Like all of Rivers's music (but especially the small groups IMHO) it speaks of his huge musical intelligence and imagination. I'll be picking up "Celebration" one of these days.

I had the privilege of hearing his great NYC concert with Holland & Altschul last year. It's amazing that a man his age can perform at such a level.

Having been a Rivers fanatic since the 70's when Impulse signed him, I remain convinced that in a just world Sam Rivers would have all of the fame and all of the money of a John Coltrane or a Miles Davis. He's every bit on their level.

[john williams]

Originally Posted by willfb

I remain convinced that in a just world Sam Rivers would have all of the fame and all of the money of a John Coltrane or a Miles Davis. He's every bit on their level.

Absolutely, and he's still here at 80 plus making some of the best music of his life. I It puzzles me why there are virtually no reviews or online discussions of his latter trios CDs. This is some of the best small group jazz I've ever heard and hardly anyone is talking about it. I re-listened to Vista (different group) again on the weekend and just loved it. I'm not normally a huge fan of the flute but the opening track on that album is as good as I've ever heard.

[Dick Bowman]

I'll lob in a spanner or two...

Enjoyed the trio music of the 70s - particularly the group with Joe Daley and Sid Smart - felt that was real stream-of-consciousness stuff.

On the other hand I get a sense with the Florida trio that there's a lot of re-creation going on. That while it sounds like a spontaneous trio they might just possibly be rehearsed to the point of death. That it's very calculated. I was quite taken with the "Concept" CD, less so with "Celebration" and much less so with "Firestorm".

When the Florida trio was playing a week in New York a few years back I remember Rivers saying that people needn't go more than once because they'd be playing the same set each night. Which struck as an odd thing to say - maybe it's reverse-hyping. Certainly runs against "free jazz" expectations. Wonder whether anyone has caught them on successive nights?