''Celebrating Fred Anderson'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist

Roscoe Mitchell Roscoe Mitchell (born August 3, 1940) is an American composer, jazz instrumentalist, and educator, known for being "a technically superb – if idiosyncratic – saxophonist". ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' described him as "one of the key figures ...

, which was recorded live in 2015 at Chicago's Constellation and released on Nessa. For this tribute to saxophonist Fred Anderson, Mitchell assembled a quartet with cellist Tomeka Reid, bassist Junius Paul and drummer Vincent Davis and prepared four original pieces and adaptations of two Fred Anderson compositions, "Bernice" and "Ladies in Love".''Celebrating Fred Anderson''
at Nessa Records

Reception

The ''

Down Beat ' (styled in all caps) is an American music magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond", the last word indicating its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chi ...

'' review by Peter Margasak says "Reedist, composer and bandleader Roscoe Mitchell has always trusted in his own vision. He takes the AACM's emphasis on creating new, original music as immutable gospel, and it is a major sign of respect that Mitchell has paid homage to the great Chicago tenor saxophonist Fred Anderson on this bracing new effort."Margasak, Peter. ''Celebrating Fred Anderson'' review. ''Down Beat'' November 15: page 46. Print. Derek Taylor of Dusted Magazine wrote: "Recorded five days after what would have been the Chicago saxophonist's 85th birthday, ''Celebrating Fred Anderson'' accomplishes exactly that through a program of challenging concert music that parallels the spirit if not letter of its dedicatee... Anderson would no doubt be honored by his old friend's observance and the continued tenacity of his creative endeavors." In a review for Point of Departure, Michael Rosenstein stated: "Rather than convene one of Anderson's working groups or bringing one of his ensembles, it was great that Mitchell assembled a cross-generational group of members of the AACM... The set... offers up an apt tribute to a musician who was a stalwart individualist throughout his career." Jazz Word's Ken Waxman commented: "Confirmed is the abiding power of, plus the continued sonic research involved in creating, the sounds that Anderson and Mitchell helped nurture." Clifford Allen, writing for The New York City Jazz Record, noted that "Mitchell's music may appear to be a methodical extension of Coltrane's scalar improvisations and while playing different instruments... and with the elder Anderson drawing from the bebop of Gene Ammons and Charlie Parker, their similarities are more than apparent." He summed up his opinion of the album by stating "The title is absolutely true and then some."

Track listing

:''All compositions by Roscoe Mitchell except as indicated'' # "Song for Fred Anderson" – 17:24 # "Bernice" (Fred Anderson) – 10:40 # "The Velvet Lounge" – 6:43 # "Hey Fred" – 17:05 # "Ladies in Love" (Fred Anderson) – 13:46 # "Cermak Road" – 4:27

Personnel

- alto sax, soprano sax,

sopranino sax The sopranino saxophone is the second-smallest member of the saxophone family. It is tuned in the key of E, and sounds an octave higher than the alto saxophone. An F sopranino (an octave above the F alto (also called mezzo-soprano) saxophone) ...

* Tomeka Reid –

cello The cello ( ; plural ''celli'' or ''cellos'') or violoncello ( ; ) is a Bow (music), bowed (sometimes pizzicato, plucked and occasionally col legno, hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually intonation (music), t ...

*Junius Paul –

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

*Vincent Davis –

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

References

{{Authority control 2015 live albums Roscoe Mitchell live albums Nessa Records live albums