''Inspiration'' 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 Performance" at the

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. In a review for

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awarded the album a full 5 stars, calling it "astonishing." He wrote: "all of the compositions not only sound fresh, they sound visionary -- still ahead of their time. It's not only because the stellar musicians give vibrant, unpredictable performances, although that undeniably helps; Rivers' writing is the real key... ''Inspiration'' truly is a revelation, proving not only that Rivers retains all his creative power at the age of 75, but that avant-garde jazz can be as inviting as any other style without sacrificing any of its depth or daring." Bill Shoemaker of ''

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'' stated that Rivers's "current work has a more vibrant edge than 99.9% of the music now glutting the market," and commented: "Rivers' avant-icon status obscures the fact that his sensibility is pan-stylistic, and that, more often than not, the dense clusters and jarring voicings of his orchestra works are in the service of setting up tangy funk, Latin, and swing grooves for soloists." The authors of ''

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'' awarded ''Inspiration'' a full 4 stars, and noted "the sheer originality of Rivers's concept: that he can mould an orchestra of highly individual performers so that it sounds like the expression of a single, idiosyncratic imagination." Writing for ''

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'', Glenn Astarita remarked: "Big band fanatics and modern jazz aficionados should enjoy the heck out of this one. A most gratifying and noteworthy effort from the venerable Sam Rivers and his modern jazz all-stars!" Author

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stated that the album "brims with the exhilaration exclusive to the form," and wrote: "The music is wonderfully schizoid; the dense voicings are dissonant, but the riffs and pithy solos are downright toasty." A writer for '' Mother Jones'' commented: "Imagine funk idol

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falling under the sway of abstract expressionism, and you have an idea of how Rivers' new album combines aggressive dissonance, tricky rhythms, and unconventional grooves... At 77, Rivers has produced an album that any audacious young avant-gardiste would envy."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Sam Rivers. # "Vines" – 13:36 # "Nebula" – 11:18 # "Beatrice" – 10:37 # "Inspiration" – 9:42 # "Solace" – 11:01 # "Whirlwind" – 5:44 # "Rejuvenation" – 8:36

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 – electric bass * Anthony Cole – drums

References

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