Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet

Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet is a solo album by trumpeter Hugh Ragin. It was released in 2002 by Hopscotch Records.[1][2][3][4]

Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet
Studio album by
Released2002
GenreJazz
Length1:00:22
LabelHopscotch Records
HOP 13
Hugh Ragin chronology
Feel the Sunshine
(2002)
Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet
(2002)
Revelation
(2004)

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Penguin Guide to Jazz    [5]

The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings wrote: "solo trumpet is a touch discipline for a record, and it's to Hugh's credit that he makes this set as engaging to a listener as it is."[5]

Ken Waxman of JazzWord descrbied Ragin as a "consummate trumpet technician," and stated: "The most interesting pieces... are two of the longest... 'Rhythm Unit #5'... centres around constantly repeated grace notes that fluctuate up the scale. Growls and peeps arise from within the bell followed by a melody that moves from allegro to adagio, finally expanding from chromatic trills into loud, sharp, pinpointed whole notes. 'Rhythm Unit #4'... features a wavering tone, staccato triple tonguing and broken high notes, which — perhaps following Ragin's legit training — continue in a straight line rather than turning chaotic."[6]

A writer for The New York City Jazz Record called the album "a stand-out," and commented: "the trumpeter says it wasn't a strange concept, given solo discs by [Anthony] Braxton, [Leo] Smith and [Roscoe] Mitchell. On it Ragin salutes figures as disparate as Miles Davis, Braxton and even plays 'Variations on a Theme by Paganini' while still maintaining his originality."[7]

Track listing edit

"Rhythm Units" #1–9 composed by Wadada Leo Smith. "Perpetual Motion" based on a theme by Niccolò Paganini. Remaining compositions by Hugh Ragin.

  1. "For the Joy of Sound Space & Music (This is an Improvisation Using Studio Technology)" – 10:29
  2. "Parisian Sunrise (This is a Ballad Using Natural Trumpet Tones)" – 4:51
  3. "Rhythm Unit #1 (This Composition Reminds Me of the Sun and How It Creates Shadows)" – 2:13
  4. "Rhythm Unit #2 (This Rhythm Unit as I Interpreted It, Reminds Me of the Stars and How They Function in the Universe)" – 2:04
  5. "Rhythm Unit #3 (Listen to This Rhythm Unit as Mean of Entering Peace)" – 4:12
  6. "Rhythm Unit #4 (We Can Change for the Better When We Seek to Expend Our Horizons)" – 2:13
  7. "Rhythm Unit #5 (This is a Reflection on Thoughts and Intents)" – 4:34
  8. "Rhythm Unit #6 (This Reminds Me of When the Sun Comes Out, You Cannot See the Stars)" – 5:22
  9. "Rhythm Unit #7 (Abstract Blue is the Colour of Music)" – 3:43
  10. "Rhythm Unit #8 (This a Space for Sound Music)" – 3:28
  11. "Rhythm Unit #9 (We Close our Rhythm Units with Sound Music for Space)" – 3:06
  12. "Ballad for Miles (Self Explanatory)" – 4:23
  13. "Perpetual Motion (Variations on a Theme by Paganini)" – 1:59
  14. "Braxton Dues (Dedicated to Anthony Braxton)" – 4:27
  15. "Emergency Exit" – 2:04

Personnel edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Hugh Ragin: Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet". AllMusic. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Hugh Ragin / Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet". ArtistInfo. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  3. ^ "Hugh Ragin discography". JazzLists. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "Hopscotch Records Catalog". Hopscotch Records. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2006). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin Books. p. 1088.
  6. ^ Waxman, Ken (January 5, 2004). "Hugh Ragin / Ruth Barberán / Matt Davis / Alfredo Costa Monteiro". JazzWord. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "Hugh Ragin". The New York City Jazz Record. May 2015. p. 10.