Evidence

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This curiosity features two of the most underappreciated jazz thinkers of the modern era--soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy and trumpeter Don Cherry (Carl Brown on bass and Billy Higgins on drums round out the quartet). Though both men are known for their more exploratory moments, Evidence, recorded in 1960, is a decidedly restrained affair. With the exception of Duke Ellington's "The Mystery Song" and Billy Strayhorn's "Something to Live For", the program here is composed entirely of Thelonious Monk material. While Lacy's work with Monk is well known, adding Cherry's judiciously round tone painting as counterpoint to Lacy's stabbing melodies gives this disc a finished quality that fans of either horn player will appreciate. Monk fanatics, of course, will devour this. --S. Duda

Evidence, Music, Steve Lacy with Don Cherry, Free Jazz, Jazz, Jazz Music, Pop, Post-Bop

Average customer rating:

The Weatherman LP

Evidence the rapper/producer

The Weatherman LP

Stellar

Very stormy forcast with bright spots from THE WEATHERMAN.

The Weatherman LP
Evidence
Manufacturer: Abb Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000MGBR7C
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Tracks:

I Know
Weather Report 1
Mr Slow Flow
Let Yourself Go
Down In New York City
A Moment In Time
Look For The Evidence (Interlude)
All Said & Done
Weather Report 2
Perfect Storm
Chase The Clouds Away
NC To CA
Evidence Is Everything
Thing You Do
Biggest Belgium Fan (Interlude)
Hot & Cold
Line Of Scrimmage
Believe In Me
Born In L.A.
Weather Report 3
I Still Love You

Customer Reviews:

The Weatherman LP.......2007-07-06

I have heard the best tracks on Hip Hop websites, but aftering buying the album I saw the up and downs in this effort. He comes with interesting flows on most tracks, but some of the beats are not worth mentioning. I also think the hooks could of been better considering who he is known for being with. I think this album is worth the money you will spend, but you must listen to this with an open mind!

Evidence the rapper/producer.......2007-07-05

Evidence is an L.A.-born rapper from the rap group, Dilated Peoples, who are known for their top-notch rap beats and down-to-earth lyrics. Evidence is known for his slow-flow rapping as well as being a respected producer who has made beats for Dilated as well as other artists such as Defari and Planet Asia.

With his solo debut, The Weatherman LP, EV/Evidence/Mr. Slow Flow/The Weatherman is able to show off a lot of his artistic creativity. This is probably because Dilated is no longer with Capitol Records. This album is now on ABB Records, which means that EV has more creative control over his music, which is a major reason why this album is worth at least a few listens.

The production done for this album is top notch, with long-time collaborator and friend, The Alchemist on boards for 5 of the tracks. The third track, Letyourselfgo, where he's a featured rapper along with Phonte, has a tight beat that'll definately grab your attention. On Chase the Clouds Away, The Alchemist samples again and produces the only sunny song on the album. The beat is steady while Alchemist, again, chops it up.
Sid Roams, the team of Joey Chavez (also a long time collaborator and friend) and Tavish Graham also help out with 3 of the tracks. These tracks use a very low end bass, and adds to the rainy forecast effect that the album has. Rakaa of Dilated raps on the Sid Roam produced "Perfect Storm" and DJ Babu produces 2 of them, so as you can see, the Dilated family is here. Other producers here are Jake One, DJ Khalil, and, o yea, The Weatherman himself.

This album is a very personal one, which deals with many aspects of Ev's life and career, such as where he grew up (LA), where he enjoys visiting (NY), and how he deals with pleasure and pain. The death of his mother is a constant theme throughout the album, hence why the majority of it has a rainy theme to it. He's also out to prove that it isn't always sunny in Southern Cali.

Guest appearances include Defari, Planet Asia, Slug, Big Pooh, Joe Scudda, and Madchild.

As far as his rapping goes, it hasn't improved much, but he's already a decent rapper.

Conclusion: If you're a Dilated fan, you'd be better off just buying it. If not, it is still worth a listen. It might be the sleeper of the year.

Pruduction: 5/5
Lyrics: 4/5
Rapping: 4/5
Overall: 4.5 stars (not an average)

The Weatherman LP.......2007-07-04

Hot beats, but his flow is near average, his guest stars kills it though. It still a good album.

Stellar.......2007-04-21

I initially wanted to give this a 4.5. Classic? No. But it's damn close. Give a damn what anyone says. I will say, everyone is entitled to there opinion. But give props where it's due. This album is strong. Lyrically, Production and even track order. It doesn't really have any track that I skip. So, once again, give it a shot. But do be advised, don't jump into this if you haven't listened to Evidence or Dilated prior to this release.

Very stormy forcast with bright spots from THE WEATHERMAN........2007-04-12

I really wanted to listen to this several times before I commented on it with a fair opinion. I wanted to love this album and dismiss the negative reviews that I'd read in magazines+on Amazon. The horrible truth is that there is alot of elements that are accurate in these reports. (1)Ev's flow has fallen off, no other way of saying it (any doubters listen to the 1st 2 Dilated albums then peep this right after them, hey presto), (2)Production is so similar it makes the album sound so bland. One very valid point that most of the reviews state is that Ev slowflows the album to death and thats so true. He just doesnt mix it up enough to engage the listener enough. God knows, as he states himself alot on the album, we waited long enough for the solo album so he really should've brought nothing but his "A" game to the table. With all that being said, there is simply no denying that Evidence is a ridiculously gifted lyricist+producer so when he gets it right on the album its brilliant. There are a fair amount of tracks where this happens such as "I Know", "Down in New York City", "Moment in Time" feat.Planet Asia, "All Said & Done", "Perfect Storm" feat.Rakaa, "Chase the Clouds Away", "Evidence Is Everywhere", "Line of Scrimmage" feat.Slug and "Born in LA" feat.Chace Infinite+Sick Jacken. The rest are either weak efforts from Ev or just straight boring, apart from the finale "I Still Love You" where you can feel the pain in Ev's voice when he's rapping about his mom's passing. An unusual ending for an album but a nice side of an mc that you dont really get to hear within his normal dilated restraints. Its honestly not as bad as some have said but its also nowhere as good as it shouldve been. Probably wont be put in heavy rotation, no matter how much of a Dilated fan.

Average customer rating:

Ice is Nice
Old school gangsta rapper with something to say
All Of The OG's Best In One Place
Well I guess that's it
THE ICEMAN COMETH.

Ice-T - Greatest Hits: The Evidence
Ice-T
Manufacturer: Atomic Pop
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

West Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00004UEND
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Tracks:

6 'N The Mornin'
I'm Your Pusher
High Rollers
You Played Yourself
Peel Their Caps Back
O.G. Original Gangster
Colors
New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)
Power
I Ain't New Ta This
That's How I'm Livin'
I Must Stand
Squeeze The Trigger
The Tower
The Lane (E.V.A. Remix)
Money, Power, Women

Amazon.com

It's about time. With eight albums to his credit and a reputation that stretches across the globe, someone had to pay tribute to Ice-T. But no one did, so he did it himself. From classics like "6 'N the Mornin" and "I'm Your Pusher" to the more commercial "New Jack Hustler" and "Colors," this compilation is the ultimate cross-section of Ice's hits and favorites. Sure, it may be 13 years worth of material on pimping, playing, and the drug game, but The Evidence demonstrates the strength of a hip-hop artist who's still doing it his way, even into his 40s. Production by Ice himself, Afrika Islam, and DJ Aladdin, among others, underscores the artist's often cinematic approach to hip-hop, with everything from break beats to live bass, ticking snares and guitar licks. If Ice-T is accused of being one of hip-hop's greatest then The Evidence makes him guilty as charged. --Kenji Jasper

Customer Reviews:

Ice is Nice.......2007-07-06

Good collection of Ice-Ts raps. Ice-T is kinda different from most rappers in that he doesn't rely on the beat and the flow so much. There's not so much instrumentation in his stuff, just a drum usually. Ice T relies on storytelling. His delivery is rough, but that works for his stuff. He conveys the no-nonsense business attitude [and sometimes teh menace] of the streets. Contrary to so many critics of rap, Ice doesn't do a lot of glamorizing. He's just gritty realism. Here's some good raps:

6 in the Morning

I'm YOur Pusher

High Rollers

Original Gangster

Colors - tune from the movie

I Ain't New to This

The Tower - song about going to prison and the scary life inside. Great line: "who's got the power, the whites, the blacks, or just the gun tower." Makes a listener really want to NOT go to prison.

Money, Power, Women - starts with Al Pacino's quote from Scarface. Cool.

Looking at my list, it's pretty long. I think I have to say this album is a strong 4 stars, almost 5. If I were more of a serious rap fan, maybe I'd feel it was a 5. Whatever, this a solid CD with serious rap, good storytelling.
You Played Yourself

Old school gangsta rapper with something to say.......2007-06-18

Here it is, The Evidence from one of the first and best. This CD is so awesome, I love it because it makes you think about things long after the music has stopped.
The first half of this album is remarkable, so many great beats with smart lyrics. I can't really pick a favorite, but I really love the message of track 2, I'm Your Pusher. He tells the self-destructive drug users "You don't know what time it is". Instead of pushin' the rock he's pushin the music. It might sound foolish or silly to some, but I like that positive message about keeping a strong mind.
Then there's track 4, You Played Yourself. It's genius, basically saying stay real to yourself. He preaches "stupid, ignorant--don't even talk to me. In school you dropped math, science, and history. Then you get on the mike and try to act smart. Let me tell you one thing, you got heart". Brilliant. Or he mentions "you thought you could do dope and still stay cool? Fool...you played yourself.
Then on track 6, Original Gangster, he paints a vivid picture of the chaos that surrounds South Central L.A. If you listen to the lyrics, you'll get caught up in the sad violent whirlwind that is constantly spinning. He exclaims "I'd be a true sucker if I act like I didn't care".
And of course there's New Jack Hustler. Nuff said.
There are so many other masterful tracks, like 6 'N The Mornin', High Rollers, Colors, Power, The Tower...man, I better stop.
This album is simply a must own. Once again, nuff said.

All Of The OG's Best In One Place.......2005-07-01

Ice-T is known as the first true "gangster rap" artist. He earned this title not by using excessive violent and vulgar language, but because he told true stories about the life of people in the streets. Tales of husters,pimps,gangsters and prisoners are all told, as well as a few true stories from Ice-T's own life. Every song on this compilation is a classic. If you want to hear real rap music and not crunk pop garbage such as Lil John and Chingy, go to the nearest record store and purchase this collection.

Well I guess that's it.......2004-02-13

With Ice-T making bad movies and silly TV shows, his singing days are over. He probably did this to get out of his contract and be fully available to star in the 'Facts of Life' Reunion tour. I hear he's going to play Mrs. Garret's long lost pimp.

THE ICEMAN COMETH........2003-11-05

This is a well put together compilation from probably the best rapper out today.It contains many of his classic hits and is very well put together.I wish there were more rappers of the same calibre of ice t today.He is a very real person unlike many rappers of today who are simply about image and the pursuit of money.GET THIS CD TODAY.

Average customer rating:

Classic Jazz album
space jazz
Any Herman Blount record will educate you
Pretty Good Session
A Must

Jazz in Silhouette
Sun Ra Arkestra
Manufacturer: Evidence
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Super-Sonic Jazz
The Magic City
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Visits Planet Earth/Interstellar Low Ways
Speak No Evil

ASIN: B0000014J0
Release Date: 1992-02-06

Tracks:

Enlightenment
Saturn
Velvet
Ancient Aiethopia
Hours After
Horoscope
Images
Blues At Midnight

Customer Reviews:

Classic Jazz album.......2004-10-20

This is perhaps the best place to start with Sun Ra - demonstrating his full roots in Ellington, Monk, and Space! But seriously - this guy is a true master - his compositions are imagineative - he is a master leader- the solos are all inspired - and everything is together. In Jazz there are 4 composers who really were ingenious - Monk, Mingus, Ellington, and Ra - there are some other great ones to - but these are the ones that really stand out to me!

space jazz.......2004-07-28

This is one of the best jazz albums from the 1950s. More like swing and bop than the free style Ra became noted for later on. The tune Images is a standout, being something like Monk's Off Minor. This is music for a future that has yet to arrive. Ancient Aethiopia will take you all the way there in time and place. Arguably, this is Sun Ra's best album ever!

Any Herman Blount record will educate you.......2003-05-01

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of Sun Ra albums. Not all in print of course. This one is pretty nice. Some like this one are jazz with a slight twist. Some are completely abstract, some are something different from anything you've ever heard. There are Do Wop and Disco Sun Ra albums made well before the terms Do Wop and Disco were coined. As a matter of fact it could be argued that Sun Ra invented Do Wop, Disco, rock and fusion jazz since he was experimenting in these genres long before most anyone else. They are all worth listening to.

Pretty Good Session.......2000-10-24

This was released on Ra's Saturn label in 1957. It's not quite as startling, colorful, or brilliant as "SuperSonic Jazz", which he released in 1956; the edges seem to have been filed down a bit on the music. But it's good stuff, listenable jazz with an exotic edge.

The one amazing track here is "Ancient Aethiopia" - it fuses eastern & western motifs together and sounds well ahead of its time.

A Must.......2000-05-10

I am a Sun Ra rookie. I heard of him, but never heard him. So, unlike other reviewers here, this is my first Sun Ra album. And I love it. More precisely, I think that its a masterpiece. One of those albums you here and just know you discovered a wide new world. Music will never sound the same again! (*written while hearing this album again, and dicovering how great it is).

Vietnam Blues: The Complete L&R Recording

Average customer rating:

Masterpiece - nothing else in blues quite like this
sensational discovery
A great reissue of the brilliant work of a neglected master
The Heart and Soul of Blues
A jewel unearthed

Vietnam Blues: The Complete L&R Recording
J.B. Lenoir
Manufacturer: Evidence
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000014PZ
Release Date: 1995-06-27

Tracks:

Alabama
Mojo Boogie
God's Word
The Whale Has Swalloed Me
Move This Rope
I Feel So Good
Alabama March
Talk To Your Daughter
Mississippi Road
Good Advice
Vietnam
I Want To Go
Down In Mississippi
Slow Down Woman
If I Get Lucky
Shot On James Meredith
Round And Round
Voodoo Music
Born Dead
Leavin' Here
Vietnam Blues
How Much More
Tax Payin' Blues
Feelin' Good

Customer Reviews:

Masterpiece - nothing else in blues quite like this.......2006-10-14

I've just bought this CD for the 4th time - along with Jack Dupree's "Blues From The Gutter", it's the one I give away when I really want to give, and turn someone on to the blues.

It contains JBs last 2 albums before his untimely death in 1967, and represents the full flowering of his groundbreaking African Hunch style. JB was a popular Chicago electric blues musician who gradually evolved a new acoustic sound - syncretising a lot of what had come before, from gritty Delta guitar to barrelhouse-piano style syncopation, and more than a touch of gospel - but sounding fresh and modern; he was moving forwards not back. Sadly this style seems to have died with him; the world has not caught up yet.

All tracks have JB on acoustic guitar and vocals (those words hardly doing justice to what he does with them); many with Freddie Below on drums (inventor of Rock & Roll no matter what anyone else says); and a few with Willie Dixon's atmospheric growling on backup vocal (Willie also produced).

There's nothing else quite like this, though JB's 50's and early 60's Chicago recordings gave some hints of what was to come (a couple of his 50's hits are reworked here). The guitar work is simple yet complex, highly syncopated; the voice a flexible instrument, and the songs are just extraordinary - power and subtlety, tears and laughter, protest and acceptance, folk tales and modern living.

I can't really explain it in words, just listen to some of the samples, bearing in mind the the whole experience is so much more so - at least hear "Alabama", "Mojo Boogie", "Move This Rope", "I Feel So Good", "Good Advice", "Vietnam", "Down In Mississippi", "Voodoo Music", and especially "Born Dead" and "Feelin' Good" ... heck, just get the album! What a trip it is - hearing this for the first time is like hearing Robert Johnson for the first time...

sensational discovery.......2006-02-17

I knew Lenoir from Scorcesse's films "Blues History" . Hia social interests captivated me so much.

A great reissue of the brilliant work of a neglected master.......2005-02-03

Most hardcore blues fans know of J.B.Lenoir, but if you're unfamiliar with him then this CD will be a revelation. He is a unique stylist, master guitar player, and profound lyricist. His singing is powerful, idiosyncratic and full of conviction.

The cuts on this disc have been remastered beautifully, are full of depth and clarity. They represent the broad range of Lenoir's music, from biting social and political songs, through rocking dance numbers, to pieces in a more gospel or spiritual vein. Many of the songs foreground Lenoir's signature "African hunch" polyrhythm, a style as unique to J.B. as the "Bo Diddley beat" is to, well, Bo Diddley.

If you can only get one Lenoir CD, get this one. You'll love it and it'll compel you to get everything available.

The Heart and Soul of Blues.......2004-04-02

This CD is priceless. It is a ticket into another world. The amazing talent & raw heartfelt emotion of J.B. pours out of these songs and takes the listener on a journey. It is political, it's religious, it's sexual, it's unjust defeat, it's resurrection and it's definitely groovin. This is a glimpse into the heart and soul of a black man who lived and died during civil rights movement in the south. This CD gives the listener more than just great music, it serves up human feelings, the composition of life, and that's what the blues is all about.

A jewel unearthed.......2003-10-12

I've only listened to the five excerpts from this CD, in addition to what portions I have heard on Scorsese's documentary, and I can tell you, this man's a genius. His sounds are pure and full of vitality after forty-plus years. He is unique and original; Lenoir's guitar work is rooted in Delta/acoustic guitar blues traditions, yet, in his riffs and songwriting, he displays the savvy hooks and songwriting skills of a contemporary pop tunesmith. Above all, J.B. is laid-back and downright cool--one can't help but sway, bump, and grind, to his swinging rhythms. I hope his relatives, if they are still with us, are getting a significant portion of these royalties. This man was, and is, an American Blues treasure!

P.S. Mayall's song "The death of J.B. Lenoir" is also great; Lenoir seemed to "produce" great music even after his death! We are blessed for being able to hear, and to see (thanks to this new documentary) his incredible gifts after all these years!

Slideways
Average customer rating:

Great Technician Not Great Music

Worth adding to any blues collection

Could be better

Artificial, Disappointing

You Gotta Get This CD

Slideways
Roy Rogers
Manufacturer: Evidence
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000645KZ
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

Avalanche
Smoke & Mirrors
Razor's Edge
Duckwalk
I'm With You
Talking Walls
Crescent Steps
No Destination
Swamp Dream
There Is Only You
Precious Moments
Gumbo Funk
For the Children

Amazon.com

Blues producer and slide-guitar virtuoso Roy Rogers's eighth solo outing continues his exploration of roots music with an all-instrumental selection. Nearly an hour's worth of slide guitar is a rich confection, but the variety of styles and tones adopted here will keep the aficionado amused. A few of the cuts are simply grooves, rather than artfully prepared tunes, but the majority are blues based, and all are raunchy and uptempo. The opening "Avalanche" is a gloriously sweaty blueswailin' stomp. Other highlights include "Duckwalk," a rocking tribute to one of the unsung heroes of the slide guitar, Chuck Berry, and "There Is Only You," which climaxes in a manner reminiscent of some of Ry Cooder's best soundtrack instrumentals. Meters drummer Zigaboo Modeliste lends a New Orleans flavor, and Snortin' Norton Buffalo's harmonica is a key foil for Rogers's slide throughout. --Rob Stewart

Customer Reviews:

Great Technician Not Great Music.......2007-03-08

Love a good slide guitar. This is a good player. After 5 minutes it just sounds like variations of the same lick over and over and over again. I would like to hear him play with others. Not enough on his own.

Worth adding to any blues collection.......2002-12-13

This album has a level of energy that I haven't found on many recent blues albums. Overall I think many of the other reviewers are being a bit too critical--this one is great for driving or background music during a loud party. I play it at work frequently, and almost every time someone will walk past and say "that's good stuff--who is it?" Considering some of the major disappointments I've purchased in the blues vein recently, this one deserves a solid recommendation.

Could be better.......2002-11-25

I bought this after hearing the NPR piece, and thinking that this sounded like my kind of album. But...

Roy Rogers is certainly a virtuoso guitarist and he knows his stuff too. In this album you can hear echoes of Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Clapton, Hendrix, even John Fahey. But the problem is that all the compositions are by Rogers, and while Rogers is a great guitar player, he is not much of a composer.

This album would serve very well as a cv for Rogers if he was applying for a position as a studio musician, and I'm sure he would get the job. There are also a couple of tracks that I really like, particularly #6 which is a kind of atmospheric blues with a nice harmonica accompaniment, and #10 that reminds me a bit of Thorn Tree In The Garden, the final instrumental track on Clapton's Layla album. But tracks 1-5 and 13 are tiresome and do not improve on repeated listening.

The album could be improved by cutting out tracks 1-5 and 13 and add some good standards like, maybe, some Hendrix numbers like Up From The Skies or Little Wing, and some classic blues or gospel tunes. The mark of a really good player is that he can take someone else's tune and make it his own, as for example Santana with Tito Fuente's Oy Como Va, or Peter Green's Black Magic Woman, come to think of it.

So maybe Rogers is not quite up to that stature? Well, that's why I haven't given this album five stars.

This sounds like a pretty dire review, but I do think that Rogers has a great album in him, though this is not it.

Artificial, Disappointing.......2002-11-14

Like others here, I ordered this CD after hearing the artist on NPR. He has chops but to paraphrase Albert King's complaint about other players, he "just plays fast, ain't got no soul." I don't hear it, anyway. The tracks are mildly entertaining but there's nothing moving or particularly rewarding, much less memorable. "Uninspiring" and "two-dimensional" are references that come to mind. I deleted it from my iPod after just a listening or two.

You Gotta Get This CD.......2002-10-31

Oh My God, Oh My GOD, OH MY GOD!!!!! I've listened to a lot of instrumental music in my life, but always thought "slide guitar - are you kidding, that's for backwater hillbillies". Boy was I wrong. I heard the NPR feature the other day on Roy Rogers and this album and was intrigued to say the least.

If you have ears (even one will do), you must run out right now and get this CD. It made me jump, it made my laugh, it made me cry, it made me want to live forever, it made me feel like I died and went to heaven. There are no words to describe it.

The Magic City
Average customer rating:

ESSENTIAL Sun Ra

Some Truly Great 20th Century Music: Too Good To Ignore

Otherworldly

I can't believe nobody's reviewed this CD before!

The Magic City
Sun Ra
Manufacturer: Evidence
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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When Angels Speak of Love

ASIN: B0000014KK
Release Date: 1993-11-25

Tracks:

The Magic City
The Shadow World
Abstract Eye
Abstract 'I'

Amazon.com

By the mid-1960s, bandleader and composer Sun Ra was delving deeply into extended, improvisation-heavy suites like The Magic City. Reckoned to be a tribute to his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, this long, circuitous piece comes in two different takes on the CD reissue, and both takes are rambunctiously keeled on Ra's core band members, tenor saxophonist John Gilmore and alto saxophonist Marshall Allen, who each offer scouring, ear-pinning interludes. Even so, the music here is huge, with sprawling collective improvisatons that burst with wholehearted high energy, suggesting a latent power that Sun Ra often channeled through both his own intricate scores and reams of cover tunes elsewhere in his several decades as jazz's chief outer-space renegade. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

ESSENTIAL Sun Ra.......2003-01-19

This (IMHO) is one of the finest releases from Sun Ra and the Arkestra. Accessable to the neophyte and satisfying to those familiar with Ra's music. Strong composition and execution. RECOMMENDED!

Some Truly Great 20th Century Music: Too Good To Ignore.......2001-11-15

I'm not going to compare "Magic City" to other jazz albums of the 60's, because it deserves a wider audience than only Sun Ra fans or free jazz afficionados. This album is distinct and amazing even in Sun Ra's eccentric ouevre, and it is without peer. If you appreciate the myriad attempts of 20th Century composers to reach the musical outer limits, such as those of Webern, Berg, Stravinsky, Varese, Bartok, Messiaen, Boulez, Zappa, etc., this is an album you will want to hear. Its textures, sonorities, and extremes of mood, from humor to terror and dread, put it in the august company of every musician who has put a soundtrack to consciousness and creation, to science and synthesis, to form generating itself in pure music. Get it!

Otherworldly.......1999-12-28

This is not the place to start in avant garde jazz. In fact, I suspect that plenty of perfectly reasonable, open-minded jazz fans will never get into this album. Unlike more accessible albums in the genre (Eric Dolphy's _Out to Lunch_, Ornette Coleman's early albums, John Coltrane's recordings between '61-'65) there's not much for most listeners to touch base with here. Harmony, rhythm, and melody are fleeting; the second half of the epic title track, which features extremely discordant horn blowing, will scare off 99% of the reasonable people.

If you're not completely scared off by this, I strongly recommend buying this album; the title suite is an incredibly intense collective improvisation: Sun Ra plays his eerie clavioline while Marshall Allen manically toots his piccolo and Ronnie Boykins does some killer bowing. Finally the rest of the band joins in to what may be some of the most intense and challenging fifteen minutes ever recorded. It truly is from outer space. The second half of the CD is full of shorter pieces that aren't quite as mind blowing but are still remarkable.

Get it if you dare.

I can't believe nobody's reviewed this CD before!.......1999-12-18

This CD is amazing and while I see 13 reviews for Eric Dolphy's "Out to Lunch," I see no reviews for this cd. This seems to show that people just buy those other albums because they're considered so good (and controversial), but never bothered to delve deep into the vein of free jazz, and this album is one of the greatest in that vein. Sounding harsh at times, this album ebbs and flows like no other. The continuously playing clavioline gives the album a constant theme of eerie unknown, like space, or another world. Yet it always manages to come back to sounding earthly. While Eric Dolphy was amazing and monumental in the same area, he never seemed to have the drive that Sun Ra did, who constantly made his musicians rehearse. This album is amazing and I highly recommend buying it for anyone who seriously listens to jazz, or any kind of music (if you want to have a better life, listen to a wide variety of music, that way you find out what you like.) The Magic City engulfs you and causes you to see things you wouldn't normally see. The songs not only are monumental in their sound, but monumental in their ability to represent visual themes, such as outer space and "the Magic City" itself, Birmingham Alabama. Listen to this CD at your local store, then buy it if you like it.