I find Sam Rivers boring

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Am I alone here? I have five or six of his albums and find all of them fairly uninteresting. Dude sounds like he could wail if he wants to, but there's almost too much discipline. Does that make sense? Where's the passion?

I'm over my Braxton hate (see previous thread), I should DEFINITELY be able to dig Sam Rivers, but I don't. What's a good one to convert me?

Maybe nothing is intense to me anymore. See what ten years of Frank Wright has wrought?

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Sunday, 1 May 2005 04:24 (twenty years ago)

I could not disagree with you more.

I find Sam Rivers utterly compelling. A unique, immensely talented and deeply expressive musician who has been a progressive force in music for decades.

My favourite Sam Rivers albums :

fuck it, i love him all.
I choose his whole discography.

― Infant Eyes, Sunday, 1 May 2005 07:21 (twenty years ago)

You're not the first person to tell me that...

OK, OK, what's your ABSOLUTE FAVORITE then?

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Sunday, 1 May 2005 12:54 (twenty years ago)

If you're over your Braxton hate, then why not get 'Conference of the Birds'? It was Dave Holland's date and (gorgeous) charts, and the band was basically Circle minus Chick Corea plus Sam Rivers (i.e. the drummer is Barry Altschul). Really, I can't imagine anyone in any way partial to jazz who would dislike this record.

― J.w., Sunday, 1 May 2005 17:54 (twenty years ago)

Challenge accepted - I'll either pick it up today or download it tonight. Thanks man!

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Sunday, 1 May 2005 17:56 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, Conference of the Birds is a great suggestion! Let us know what you think. And try Crystals by all means, big band freakout on Impulse! where the restraint you allude to is used for good and not ill. I still think my favorite record by him is Fuschia Swing Song, though it is relatively boppish and tame compared to the '70s loft stuff, but has some great tunes/playing.

― mcd (mcd), Sunday, 1 May 2005 19:20 (twenty years ago)

I only have Crystals and I adore it. What should i get next?

― Sonny, Ah!!1 (Sonny A.), Sunday, 1 May 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

There's a disc on the recent Miles Davis Seven Steps box that captures a Japanese concert during Sam Rivers' brief tenure in the MD quintet (between George Coleman & Wayne Shorter). Only listened twice so far, but it's v. interesting. Rivers' playing is boppish like on his Blue Note albums, but I also hear a touch of honking R&B and a little Ornette-style astringency.

Haven't heard it in 20 years, but Conferences of the Birds was a real gateway album when I first got into jazz.

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Monday, 2 May 2005 08:44 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

I'm a changed man on this subject. Picked up this KILLER double Lp called Involution today and been listening to it all night. Time for a serious reevaluation. Thanks ILX!

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Sunday, 22 May 2005 02:33 (twenty years ago)

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