Taboo (Ronald Shannon Jackson album)

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
Studio album by
Released1990
GenreJazz
LabelVenture
ProducerBill Laswell, Ronald Shannon Jackson
Ronald Shannon Jackson chronology
Red Warrior
(1990)
Taboo
(1990)
Raven Roc
(1992)

Production edit

Recorded 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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [9]
Calgary HeraldC+[10]
Robert ChristgauB+[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.TitleLength
1."Mental Holiday"
  • a. "Vacating the Body"
  • b. "Ain't Supposed to Be"
  • c. "No Routines"
  • d. "Forgive Me"
  • e. "Be Back Shortly"
 
2."Taboo" 
3."Mothers and Sons" 
4."Challenge to Manhood" 
5."Little Things That Count" 

References edit

  1. ^ Milkowski, Bill (Mar 1991). "Taboo by Ronald Shannon Jackson / Red Warrior by Ronald Shannon Jackson". DownBeat. Vol. 58, no. 3. p. 31.
  2. ^ Nicolson, Stuart (1990). Jazz, the Modern Resurgence. Simon & Schuster. p. 104.
  3. ^ MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 600.
  4. ^ Glanvill, Rick (May 25, 1990). "Jazz goes green". The Guardian. p. 35.
  5. ^ "If you don't know Jackson". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Oct 10, 2004. p. 5D.
  6. ^ a b "The Hit List". The Guardian. Feb 9, 1990. p. 35.
  7. ^ Gore, Joe (Jan 1991). "Noteworthy — Taboo by Ronald Shannon Jackson". Guitar Player. Vol. 25, no. 1. p. 130.
  8. ^ a b Levesque, Roger (9 Dec 1990). "Drummers hit mean momentum". Edmonton Journal. p. E10.
  9. ^ "Taboo Review by Ron Wynn". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b Obee, Dave (30 Aug 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F3.
  11. ^ a b "Ronald Shannon Jackson". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. ^ a b Snowden, Don (7 July 1991). "Charting Pop's Format Orphans". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 54.
  13. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 353.
  14. ^ Burns, Jehnie I. (2021). Mixtape Nostalgia: Culture, Memory, and Representation. Lexington Books. pp. 71, 72.