Songs Along the Way is an album by saxophonist Raymond MacDonald and pianist Marilyn Crispell. It was released in 2018 by Babel Records.[1][2]
| Songs Along the Way | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 2018 |
| Genre | Jazz |
| Label | Babel BDV17149 |
Reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Jazz Journal |    [3] |
In a review for Jazz Journal, Barry Witherden wrote: "There is a beguilingly pastoral quality to some of the music... but there is no shortage of tumultuous, impassioned playing either. Both modes are impressive, poignant or rousing as appropriate."[3]
Shaun Brady, writing for Jazz Times, called the album "a stunning duo date... that ranges from tender beauty and traditional song forms to explosive bursts of torrential abstraction."[4]
Jazz Word's Ken Waxman stated that the musicians "express the romantic musical elements usually hidden in their more avant-garde work," and praised the track titled "Vortex," commenting: "A sonic whirlpool, but one in which neither player is lost, the... tune tracks the tonal evolution of MacDonald from echoing Johnny Hodges-like expressiveness to narrative deconstruction with growls and reed bites, and climaxes with tongue-stopping pressure. Crispell's entrance with bouncy key clips and pedal pushed low notes induces the saxophonist to change to lower-pitched notes and intensity vibrations. Together her keyboard galloping and his extravagant sound variable restructure the piece but without losing its forward motion."[5]
The creators of the Marlbank web site included the album in their "2018 Albums of the Year" list, stating: "Playing bond deepens in remarkable duoplay."[6]
Track listing edit
- "All the Songs Above Your Head" (MacDonald) – 4:39
- "Roundabout" (MacDonald, Crispell) – 3:54
- "Why I Missed Cole Porter" (MacDonald) – 3:39
- "Beach at Newquay" (Crispell) – 4:34
- "Foresee" (MacDonald) – 2:21
- "Vortex" (MacDonald, Crispell) – 13:53
- "We Are Going" (traditional) – 4:55
- "Neolithic" (MacDonald, Crispell) – 7:58
- "Stars" (MacDonald, Crispell) – 8:01
- "Across the Reservoir" (MacDonald, Crispell) – 3:38
- "The Gallery" (MacDonald) – 5:55
Personnel edit
- Raymond MacDonald – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone
- Marilyn Crispell – piano
References edit
- ^ "Songs Along the Way". Babel Records. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ "Songs Along the Way". Bandcamp. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ a b Witherden, Barry (October 11, 2019). "Raymond MacDonald & Marilyn Crispell: Songs Along The Way". Jazz Journal. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ Brady, Shaun (May 1, 2019). "Overdue Ovation: Marilyn Crispell". Jazz Times. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ Waxman, Ken (October 8, 2019). "Latest Reviews". Jazz Word. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ "2018 Albums of the Year" (PDF). Marlbank. December 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2022.