''Purple Violets'' is an album by saxophonist and flutist
Sam Rivers, double bassist
Ben Street
Ben Street is an American jazz double bassist. Street has performed and recorded with many renowned artists, including John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner, Ben Monder, Michael Eckroth, Sam Rivers, Billy Hart, Danilo Perez, Aaron P ...
, drummer Kresten Osgood, and vibraphonist
Bryan Carrott. It was recorded on October 14 and 15, 2004, at Kampo Studios in New York, and was released in 2005 by Stunt Records, a Danish label.
The album ''
Violet Violets'' (Stunt, 2005) was recorded at the same session, with the same personnel minus Carrott.
Reception
In a review for
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
, Ken Dryden called the album "remarkable" and "highly recommended," and noted Rivers's "still-potent tenor sax."
Rex Butters 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 ...
'' wrote: "Rivers runs in good company—his gorgeous, evocative tone intact on tenor, soprano, and flute. His unique musical vision still mysterious and accessible, and his technical skill remains riveting... ''Purple Violets'' shows Rivers still at the top of one of the greatest games in jazz. Long may he rave."
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 b ...
'' stated that the members of the rhythm section "provide a very solid foundation for the maestro," but commented: "Sam's chops are not in good shape and he seems to run out of breath, if not ideas, on just about every cut."
Track listing
# "Solace" (Sam Rivers) – 6:42
# "
The Mooche" (
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life.
Born and raised in Washington, D ...
) – 7:30
# "Captain America" (Ben Street, Kresten Osgood, Sam Rivers) – 5:51
# "Abalone" (Kresten Osgood) – 6:51
# "In Search of Black Benny" (Kresten Osgood) – 3:29
# "Turbulence" (Kresten Osgood, Sam Rivers) – 3:34
# "Where to Go" (Kresten Osgood) – 6:13
# "Moderation" (Ben Street, Kresten Osgood, Sam Rivers) – 5:42
# "Space" (Bryan Carrott, Sam Rivers) – 4:06
Personnel
*
Sam Rivers – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
*
Bryan Carrott – vibraphone
*
Ben Street
Ben Street is an American jazz double bassist. Street has performed and recorded with many renowned artists, including John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner, Ben Monder, Michael Eckroth, Sam Rivers, Billy Hart, Danilo Perez, Aaron P ...
– double bass
* Kresten Osgood – drums
References
{{Reflist
2005 albums
Sam Rivers (jazz musician) albums