Synthesis is a live album by bassist/composer Reggie Workman. It was recorded on June 15, 1986, in Philadelphia and was released by Leo Records later that year.[1] On the album, Workman is joined by multi-instrumentalist Oliver Lake, pianist Marilyn Crispell, and drummer Andrew Cyrille. Workman, Lake, and Cyrille would later go on to form the group known as Trio 3.[2]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [3] |
In an article for The New York Times, Robert Palmer wrote: "The group is an all-star unit... But they don't play like all-stars here; they play like a unit... the music is very free structurally, with a soaring spirit and incantatory qualities that link it to some of the better small-band sessions from the early days of the mid-60's ESP label. But while he leaves plenty of room for each player, Mr. Workman deploys his forces ingeniously... This is stunning music, with a deeply felt intensity and a purity of intent that haven't been finding their way onto jazz records as often as one would like."[4]
The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings awarded the album 3 stars and praised Crispell's playing, stating that she gives "the performance its undoubted sense of coherence."[3]
Writing for AllMusic, Thom Jurek remarked: "As a quartet, this band has some interesting things to say. There is a fire in the group interplay, and Lake's playing is very inspired... Workman gets considerable credit for putting this ensemble together."[1]
Track listing
All compositions by Reggie Workman unless otherwise noted.
- "Jus' Ole Mae" - 8:00
- "Ogun's Ardor" - 9:27
- "Martyrs Hymn" - 6:19
- "Earthly Garden" - 15:08
- "Chant" (Marilyn Crispell) - 8:35
- "Synapse II" - 9:07
- "Fabula" - 6:49
Personnel
- Reggie Workman – bass
- Oliver Lake – reeds
- Marilyn Crispell – piano
- Andrew Cyrille – drums
Production
- Leo Feigin – producer
- Kazunori Sugiyama – recording engineer
References
- ^ a b c Jurek, Thom. "Reggie Workman Ensemble: Synthesis". AllMusic. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ May, Chris (July 9, 2009). "Trio 3 + Geri Allen: At This Time". All About Jazz. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2006). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin Books. p. 1398.
- ^ Palmer, Robert (May 17, 1987). "Top Bassists are the Bottom Line in Jazz Ensembles". New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
