Windward Passages

Infobox Album |
Name = Windward Passages
Type = live
Artist = Dave Burrell


Released = 1980
Recorded = September 13, 1979
Genre = Jazz
Length =
Label = hatART
Producer =
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:j2kqikl0bb89 link]
Last album = "Round Midnight"
(1979)
This album = "Windward Passages"
(1979)
Next album = "Daybreak"
(1989)

"Windward Passages" is a live album released by jazz pianist Dave Burrell that is considered "a widely acclaimed jazz-opera." [cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=8192|title=Recital|author=Glenn Astarita|accessdate=2007-01-03] It was recorded on September 13, 1979 in Sweden and released by hatART Records in 1980 on double-LP. hatART released the album again on LP in 1986 and then on CD in 1994.

The album was Burrell's first collaboration with his wife, Monkia Larsson, who was a Swedish writer and librettist at the time. Burrell conceived this full-length operatic album as his reply to land development in Hawaii, which was where he was raised.cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=259|title=Pianist Dave Burrell|author=Matt Rand|date=April 5, 2003|accessdate=2007-01-03] The live performance included various vocal singers, a 21 piece orchestra, dancers and a chorus. At first, Burrell had trouble convincing some vocalists to perform with him because of how fast he played as a jazz pianist; one such example was Hilda Harris of the Metropolitan Opera who told him "I can sing it, but you're playing much too fast."

Track listing

#"Overture Windward Passages" (Burrell, Larsson) — 5:32
#"Punaluu Peter" (Burrell, Larsson) — 7:12
#"Stepping Out (Or, Monday Night Death Rehearsal)" (Burrell, Larsson) — 3:59
#"On a Saturday Night" (Burrell, Larsson) — 5:54
#"Sarah's Lament" (Burrell, Larsson) — 5:35
#"Menehune Messages/Heritage/Carnival" (Burrell, Larsson) — 4:48
#"Teardrops for Jimmy" (Burrell) — 5:16
#"I Want to See You Everyday of Your Life" (Burrell, Larsson) — 5:11
#"Black Robert" (Burrell) — 5:19
#"My Dog Has Fleas/Polynesian Dreams/Popolo Paniolo" (Burrell, Larsson) — 13:19
#"A.M. Rag" (Burrell) — 4:55

Personnel

*Dave Burrell — pianoProduction:
*Klau Baumgärtner — cover art
*Walter Bosshardt, Robine Clignett — design
*David Crawford — mastering
*Craig Johnson — production coordination
*Peter Pfister — engineer, editing, recording
*Peter Rolle — photography
*Pia Uehlinger — producer
*Werner X. Uehlinger — producer, editing

Reception

Allmusic notes that Burrell "so thoroughly a pianist, composer, and improviser that the three are inseparable in him" and that this album is the proof.cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:j2kqikl0bb89|title=Windward Passages at Allmusic|author=Thom Jurek|accessdate=2007-01-03] Reviewer Thom Jurek marvels at how, performing live, Burrell is able to provide "lyrical invention and harmonic sense of balance" and how if what he "heard was possible, let alone true."

References

External links

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