''Culmination'' is an album by multi-instrumentalist and composer Sam Rivers. It was recorded during September 1998 at Systems Two Recording Studio in Brooklyn, New York, at the same sessions that yielded the album ''

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'', and was released in 1999 by BMG France. On the album, Rivers is joined by members of the Rivbea All-star Orchestra: saxophonists

Greg Osby Greg Osby (born August 3, 1960) is an American saxophonist and composer. Biography Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Osby studied at Howard University, then at the Berklee College of Music. He moved to New York City in 1982, where he played with Jak ...

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, Gary Thomas, and

Hamiet Bluiett Hamiet Bluiett (; September 16, 1940 – October 4, 2018) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. His primary instrument was the baritone saxophone, and he was considered one of the finest players of this instrument. A membe ...

, trumpeters

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, James Zollar,

Ralph Alessi Ralph Alessi (born March 5, 1963) is an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and ECM recording artist. Alessi is known as a virtuosic performer whose critically-acclaimed projects include his Baida Quartet, with Jason Moran, Drew Gress, and Nas ...

, and Ravi Best, trombonists

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, and Ray Anderson, baritone horn player Joseph Daley, tubist Bob Stewart, bassist Doug Mathews, and drummer Anthony Cole.

Reception

The album was nominated for "

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporatio ...

" at the

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. In a review for

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Scott Yanow Scott Yanow (born 1954) is an American jazz reviewer, historian, and author. Life and career Yanow was born in New York City and grew up near Los Angeles. Beginning in 1974, Yanow was a regular reviewer of many jazz styles and was the jazz e ...

wrote: "The music, which is frequently atonal, has so much going on at times that it will take several listens to comprehend everything... tis remarkable in ways and well worth acquiring by free jazz collectors." Mark Corroto of ''

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

'' stated that Rivers' "six-to thirteen-minute big band songs are wondrous treats. By shortening the solos and compacting the arrangements he seems to be bringing 'pop' hits back to the jazz orchestra." ''AAJs David Adler commented: "You can practically hear the 70s loft scene come to life as Rivers and the other strong soloists on this record... take turns navigating the atonal contours of these compositions. Yet another elliptically eloquent statement from Rivers, one of the most refreshingly radical improvisers of our time." Writing for ''

JazzTimes ''JazzTimes'' was an American print magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C., in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store. Coverage After a decade ...

'', Larry Appelbaum noted that the album "is likely to end up on many year-end best-of lists," and remarked: "Though many of the densely textured pieces have similar tempos and dynamics, they are all rhythmically and harmonically adventurous... Just about everyone in this 16-piece orchestra is a leader, so it’s no surprise that Rivers is generous with the solo space... It's clear that, at age 77, Sam Rivers shows no signs of slowing down."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Sam Rivers. # "Spectrum" – 7:22 # "Bubbles" – 8:27 # "Revelation" – 10:36 # "Culmination" – 8:12 # "Ripples" – 13:38 # "Neptune" – 5:53 # "Riffin'" – 6:26

Personnel

* Sam Rivers – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute *

– alto saxophone *

– tenor saxophone * Gary Thomas – tenor saxophone *

– baritone saxophone *

– trumpet * James Zollar – trumpet *

– trumpet * Ravi Best – trumpet *

– trombone *

– trombone * Ray Anderson – trombone * Joseph Daley – baritone horn * Bob Stewart – tuba * Doug Mathews – bass * Anthony Cole – drums

References

{{Reflist 1999 albums Sam Rivers (jazz musician) albums Bertelsmann Music Group albums