''Circles'' is a live album by pianist

Marilyn Crispell Marilyn Crispell (born March 30, 1947) is an American jazz pianist and composer. Scott Yanow described her as "a powerful player... who has her own way of using space... She is near the top of her field." Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrot ...

. It was recorded at the 8th Festival International De Musique Actuelle De Victoriaville in Victoriaville, Canada in October 1990, and was released in 1991 by Les Disques Victo. On the album, Crispell is joined by saxophonists

Oliver Lake Oliver Lake (born September 14, 1942) is an American jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer, poet, and visual artist. He is known mainly for alto saxophone, but he also performs on soprano and flute. During the 1960s, Lake worked with the Black ...

and Peter Buettner, bassist

Reggie Workman Reginald "Reggie" Workman (born June 26, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American avant-garde jazz and hard bop double bassist, recognized for his work with both John Coltrane and Art Blakey. Career Early in his career, Workman work ...

, and drummer

Gerry Hemingway Gerry Hemingway (born March 23, 1955) is an American drummer and composer. Hemingway was a member of the Anthony Braxton quartet from 1983 to 1994. He has also performed with Ernst Reijseger, Anthony Davis, Earl Howard, Leo Smith, George E. ...

Reception

In a review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...

, François Couture wrote: "The Crispell/Workman/Hemingway unit is tightly locked, but strangely it is the two saxophonists who inherited most of the melodies. 'Rituel' begins on a slow free improvisational crescendo. It turns into cathartic mayhem before a compositional structure becomes apparent. The other pieces are more restrained and planned, showing Crispell's taste for the romantically solemn. 'Chant' is built on a short leitmotiv reiterated by the saxes throughout the ten minutes or so of the piece... ''Circles'' has its moments, but it stands far from Crispell's best efforts." The authors of the ''

Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' is a reference work containing an encyclopedic directory of jazz recordings on CD which were (at the time of publication) currently available in Europe or the United States. The first nine editions were compiled by ...

'' awarded the album 3 stars, and stated: "Four long compositions which move into free territory before revealing their structure. Unusual at this period to hear Crispell work with horns... one... senses a certain desire to keep out of the front line and concentrate on shaping the inner contours of quite turbulent music... The chemistry with Workman and Hemingway is fresh and fissile."

Track listing

All compositions by Marilyn Crispell. # "Rituel" – 23:09 # "Sorrow" – 9:09 # "Circles" – 10:15 # "Chant" – 11:21 * Recorded at the 8th Festival International De Musique Actuelle De Victoriaville in Victoriaville, Canada on October 7, 1990.

Personnel

– piano *

– alto saxophone * Peter Buettner – tenor saxophone *

– bass *

– drums

References

{{Reflist 1991 live albums Marilyn Crispell live albums