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Refining his large-ensemble experiments of 1971, Attica Blues is one of Archie Shepp's most significant post-'60s statements, recorded just several months after authorities ended the Attica prison uprising by massacring 43 inmates and hostages. Perhaps because Shepp's musical interests were changing, Attica Blues isn't the all-out blast of rage one might expect; instead, it's a richly arranged album of mournful, quietly agonized blues and Ellingtonian swing, mixed with a couple of storming funk burners. Of course, Shepp doesn't quite play it straight, bringing his avant-garde sensibilities to both vintage big band and contemporary funk, with little regard for the boundaries separating them all. His soloing on tenor and soprano is typically sharp-edged and modal, and his nasal, slicing tone on soprano is featured quite heavily. The stylishness of the slow numbers is undercut with quivering, faintly unsettling dissonances, and the up-tempo funk cuts recall the way Sly Stone's arrangements ping-ponged many different elements off each other in a gleeful organized chaos. That's especially true on the gospel-inflected title song, a monster of a groove that later became a hit on the acid jazz revival circuit (and stands up to anything recorded by straight-up funk bands of the era). In the same vein, "Blues for Brother George Jackson" sounds like an edgier Isaac Hayes-style blaxploitation soundtrack cut. Vocal ballads are plentiful, and Joe Lee Wilson ("Steam," a song Shepp would return to often) and Carl Hall (aka Henry Hull) both acquit themselves well; more debatable are the poetic recitations and the choice of flügelhornist/composer Cal Massey's young daughter Waheeda to sing "Quiet Dawn" (although Waheeda's almost-there intonation is effectively creepy). Still, in the end, Attica Blues is one of Shepp's most successful large-group projects, because his skillful handling of so many different styles of black music produces such tremendously groovy results.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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Roland Wilson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Cornell Dupree, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joshie Armstead, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Higgins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Jemmott, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Garrison, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Blake, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Robinson, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Archie Shepp, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - CLARENCE WHITE, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles McGhee, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - ED MICHEL, Producer - Kiane Zawadi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Massey, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Roland Alexander, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lee Wilson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Romulus Franceschini, Conductor, Artist - Beaver Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marion Brown, Flute, Percussion, Alto Saxophone, Low Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Jenkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Davis Jr., Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Burrell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Calo Scott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Thornton, Cornet, AssociatedPerformer - Juma Sultan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Greenlee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - James Ware, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Stephens, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Hakim Jami, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - William Kunstler, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Burrows, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ridley, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Anderson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nene DeFense, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Hull, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waheeda Massey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Albertine Robertson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bartholomew Gray, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roland Wilson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Cornell Dupree, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joshie Armstead, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Higgins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Jemmott, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Garrison, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Blake, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Robinson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Archie Shepp, MainArtist - CLARENCE WHITE, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles McGhee, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - ED MICHEL, Producer - Kiane Zawadi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Massey, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Roland Alexander, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lee Wilson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Romulus Franceschini, Conductor, Artist - Beaver Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marion Brown, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Low Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Jenkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Davis Jr., Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Burrell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Calo Scott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Thornton, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Juma Sultan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Greenlee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - James Ware, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Stephens, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Hakim Jami, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - William Kunstler, Spoken Word, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Burrows, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ridley, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Anderson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nene DeFense, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Hull, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waheeda Massey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Albertine Robertson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bartholomew Gray, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roland Wilson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Cornell Dupree, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joshie Armstead, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Higgins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Jemmott, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Garrison, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Blake, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Robinson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Archie Shepp, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - CLARENCE WHITE, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles McGhee, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - ED MICHEL, Producer - Kiane Zawadi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Massey, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Roland Alexander, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lee Wilson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Romulus Franceschini, Conductor, Artist - Beaver Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marion Brown, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Low Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Jenkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Davis Jr., Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Burrell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Calo Scott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Thornton, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Juma Sultan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Greenlee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - James Ware, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Stephens, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Hakim Jami, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - William Kunstler, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Burrows, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ridley, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Anderson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nene DeFense, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Hull, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waheeda Massey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Albertine Robertson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bartholomew Gray, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roland Wilson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Cornell Dupree, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joshie Armstead, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Higgins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Jemmott, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Garrison, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Blake, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Robinson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Archie Shepp, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - CLARENCE WHITE, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles McGhee, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - ED MICHEL, Producer - Kiane Zawadi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Massey, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Roland Alexander, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lee Wilson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Romulus Franceschini, Conductor, Artist - Beaver Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marion Brown, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Low Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Jenkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Davis Jr., Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Burrell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Calo Scott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Thornton, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Juma Sultan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Greenlee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - James Ware, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Stephens, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Hakim Jami, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - William Kunstler, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Burrows, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ridley, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Anderson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nene DeFense, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Hull, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waheeda Massey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Albertine Robertson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bartholomew Gray, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roland Wilson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Cornell Dupree, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joshie Armstead, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Higgins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Jemmott, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Garrison, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Blake, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Robinson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Archie Shepp, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - CLARENCE WHITE, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles McGhee, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - ED MICHEL, Producer - Kiane Zawadi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Massey, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Roland Alexander, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lee Wilson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Romulus Franceschini, Conductor, Artist - Beaver Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marion Brown, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Low Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Jenkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Davis Jr., Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Burrell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Calo Scott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Thornton, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Juma Sultan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Greenlee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - James Ware, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Stephens, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Hakim Jami, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - William Kunstler, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Burrows, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ridley, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Anderson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nene DeFense, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Hull, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waheeda Massey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Albertine Robertson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bartholomew Gray, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roland Wilson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Cornell Dupree, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joshie Armstead, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Higgins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Jemmott, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Garrison, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Blake, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Robinson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Archie Shepp, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - CLARENCE WHITE, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles McGhee, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - ED MICHEL, Producer - Kiane Zawadi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Massey, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Roland Alexander, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lee Wilson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Romulus Franceschini, Conductor, Artist - Beaver Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marion Brown, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Low Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Jenkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Davis Jr., Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Burrell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Calo Scott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Thornton, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Juma Sultan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Greenlee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - James Ware, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Stephens, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Hakim Jami, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - William Kunstler, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Burrows, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ridley, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Anderson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nene DeFense, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Hull, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waheeda Massey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Albertine Robertson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bartholomew Gray, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roland Wilson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Cornell Dupree, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joshie Armstead, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Higgins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Jemmott, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Garrison, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Blake, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Robinson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Archie Shepp, MainArtist - CLARENCE WHITE, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles McGhee, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - ED MICHEL, Producer - Kiane Zawadi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Massey, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Roland Alexander, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lee Wilson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Romulus Franceschini, Conductor, Artist - Beaver Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marion Brown, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Low Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Jenkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Davis Jr., Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Burrell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Calo Scott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Thornton, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Juma Sultan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Greenlee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - James Ware, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Stephens, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Hakim Jami, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - William Kunstler, Spoken Word, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Burrows, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ridley, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Anderson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nene DeFense, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Hull, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waheeda Massey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Albertine Robertson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bartholomew Gray, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roland Wilson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Cornell Dupree, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joshie Armstead, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Higgins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Jemmott, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Garrison, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Blake, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Robinson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Archie Shepp, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - CLARENCE WHITE, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles McGhee, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - ED MICHEL, Producer - Kiane Zawadi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Massey, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Roland Alexander, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lee Wilson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Romulus Franceschini, Conductor, Artist - Beaver Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marion Brown, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Low Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Jenkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Davis Jr., Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Burrell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Calo Scott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Thornton, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Juma Sultan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Greenlee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - James Ware, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Stephens, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Hakim Jami, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - William Kunstler, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Burrows, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ridley, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Anderson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nene DeFense, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Hull, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waheeda Massey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Albertine Robertson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bartholomew Gray, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roland Wilson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Cornell Dupree, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joshie Armstead, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Higgins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Jemmott, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Garrison, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Blake, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Robinson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Archie Shepp, MainArtist - CLARENCE WHITE, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles McGhee, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - ED MICHEL, Producer - Kiane Zawadi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Massey, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roland Alexander, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lee Wilson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Romulus Franceschini, Conductor, Artist - Beaver Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marion Brown, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Low Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Jenkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Davis Jr., Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Burrell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Calo Scott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Thornton, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Juma Sultan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Greenlee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - James Ware, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Stephens, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Hakim Jami, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - William Kunstler, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Burrows, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ridley, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Anderson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nene DeFense, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Hull, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waheeda Massey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Albertine Robertson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bartholomew Gray, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Roland Wilson, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Cornell Dupree, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joshie Armstead, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Billy Higgins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Gerald Jemmott, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Garrison, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - John Blake, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Bill Robinson, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Archie Shepp, MainArtist - CLARENCE WHITE, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles McGhee, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - ED MICHEL, Producer - Kiane Zawadi, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Massey, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roland Alexander, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lee Wilson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Romulus Franceschini, Conductor, Artist - Beaver Harris, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lakshminarayana Shankar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Marion Brown, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Low Whistle, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Jenkins, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Walter Davis Jr., Keyboards, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Burrell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Calo Scott, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Clifford Thornton, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - Juma Sultan, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Greenlee, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - James Ware, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Stephens, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Hakim Jami, Flugelhorn, AssociatedPerformer - William Kunstler, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - Roy Burrows, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Ridley, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Anderson, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Nene DeFense, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Lipscomb, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Hull, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Waheeda Massey, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Albertine Robertson, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bartholomew Gray, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Verve Label Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Refining his large-ensemble experiments of 1971, Attica Blues is one of Archie Shepp's most significant post-'60s statements, recorded just several months after authorities ended the Attica prison uprising by massacring 43 inmates and hostages. Perhaps because Shepp's musical interests were changing, Attica Blues isn't the all-out blast of rage one might expect; instead, it's a richly arranged album of mournful, quietly agonized blues and Ellingtonian swing, mixed with a couple of storming funk burners. Of course, Shepp doesn't quite play it straight, bringing his avant-garde sensibilities to both vintage big band and contemporary funk, with little regard for the boundaries separating them all. His soloing on tenor and soprano is typically sharp-edged and modal, and his nasal, slicing tone on soprano is featured quite heavily. The stylishness of the slow numbers is undercut with quivering, faintly unsettling dissonances, and the up-tempo funk cuts recall the way Sly Stone's arrangements ping-ponged many different elements off each other in a gleeful organized chaos. That's especially true on the gospel-inflected title song, a monster of a groove that later became a hit on the acid jazz revival circuit (and stands up to anything recorded by straight-up funk bands of the era). In the same vein, "Blues for Brother George Jackson" sounds like an edgier Isaac Hayes-style blaxploitation soundtrack cut. Vocal ballads are plentiful, and Joe Lee Wilson ("Steam," a song Shepp would return to often) and Carl Hall (aka Henry Hull) both acquit themselves well; more debatable are the poetic recitations and the choice of flügelhornist/composer Cal Massey's young daughter Waheeda to sing "Quiet Dawn" (although Waheeda's almost-there intonation is effectively creepy). Still, in the end, Attica Blues is one of Shepp's most successful large-group projects, because his skillful handling of so many different styles of black music produces such tremendously groovy results.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:37:16
- Main artists: Archie Shepp
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Impulse!
- Genre: Jazz
© 2003 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1972 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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