Taboo is an album by the American musician Ronald Shannon Jackson.[1][2] It was released by Venture Records in 1990.[3] Jackson supported the album with concert appearances in the UK.[4]
| Taboo | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | Venture | |||
| Producer | Bill Laswell, Ronald Shannon Jackson | |||
| Ronald Shannon Jackson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editRecorded in the mid-1980s, the album was coproduced by Bill Laswell.[5][6] Vernon Reid played guitar on all of the tracks.[7] Jackson employed two bass players and a horn section.[8]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Calgary Herald | C+[10] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[11] |
| Los Angeles Times | [12] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [13] |
The Calgary Herald wrote that the "generous use of horns—and Vernon Reid's smooth guitar—keep it all together while Jackson teaches a lesson in what can be done with percussion."[10] The Edmonton Journal said that, "tight, up front, or in behind he is always trying something, maybe just in response to the bright Coleman-style discord of the band... Sax and guitar take their own stretch with a jazzy message."[8] Robert Christgau opined that the "first side's a suite that'll string you along but good—kind of like Mingus, so to speak."[11] The Los Angeles Times stated that "high horns playing Middle Eastern-tinged melodies over bubbling bass and limber, forceful drumming."[12] The Guardian praised the "deliciously full ensemble thrashes."[6]
In other media
edit"Challenge to Manhood" and "Taboo" appear on a mixtape compiled by the title character of the Alan Warner novel Morvern Callar.[14]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mental Holiday"
| |
| 2. | "Taboo" | |
| 3. | "Mothers and Sons" | |
| 4. | "Challenge to Manhood" | |
| 5. | "Little Things That Count" |
References
edit- ^ Milkowski, Bill (Mar 1991). "Taboo by Ronald Shannon Jackson / Red Warrior by Ronald Shannon Jackson". DownBeat. Vol. 58, no. 3. p. 31.
- ^ Nicolson, Stuart (1990). Jazz, the Modern Resurgence. Simon & Schuster. p. 104.
- ^ MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 600.
- ^ Glanvill, Rick (May 25, 1990). "Jazz goes green". The Guardian. p. 35.
- ^ "If you don't know Jackson". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Oct 10, 2004. p. 5D.
- ^ a b "The Hit List". The Guardian. Feb 9, 1990. p. 35.
- ^ Gore, Joe (Jan 1991). "Noteworthy — Taboo by Ronald Shannon Jackson". Guitar Player. Vol. 25, no. 1. p. 130.
- ^ a b Levesque, Roger (9 Dec 1990). "Drummers hit mean momentum". Edmonton Journal. p. E10.
- ^ "Taboo Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ a b Obee, Dave (30 Aug 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F3.
- ^ a b "Ronald Shannon Jackson". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ a b Snowden, Don (7 July 1991). "Charting Pop's Format Orphans". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 54.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 353.
- ^ Burns, Jehnie I. (2021). Mixtape Nostalgia: Culture, Memory, and Representation. Lexington Books. pp. 71, 72.