The 80th Birthday Concert
Live album by
George Russell & The Living Time Orchestra
Released2005
RecordedJune 2003
GenreJazz
LabelConcept
ProducerGeorge Russell
George Russell chronology
It's About Time
(1996) 		The 80th Birthday Concert
(2005) 		Things New
(2007)

The 80th Birthday Concert is a two-CD live album by George Russell released on the Concept label in 2005, featuring a performance by Russell with his Living Time Orchestra recorded in 2003.[1]

Despite having been named an NEA Jazz Master, and receiving MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships, Russell was unable to arrange a United States tour for his ensemble on the occasion of his 80th birthday, and instead presented his celebratory concerts in Europe.[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz[4]
The Guardian[2]
All About Jazz[5]

In a review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow wrote: "The 80th Birthday Concert... stands as one of [Russell's] finest recordings and sums up much of his career... it is the sound of the passionate ensembles, the very original writing, and the spirit of the musicians and the ageless Russell that makes this a highly recommended set".[3]

The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings awarded the album 4 stars, calling it "an unashamed celebration of some of Russell's greatest works, but also a valuable introduction to one of the most important bodies of work in modern jazz composition."[4]

The Guardian's John Fordham called the album "exuberant", and noted that the music "brought a Barbican crowd to their feet."[2]

Aaron Steinberg, writing for Jazz Times, praised the "strong solos from tenor saxophonist Andy Sheppard, guitarist Mike Walker and electrified trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg" on "Electronic Sonata" and "The African Game", but stated that the two closing works are "more charming."[6]

In a review for All About Jazz, Robert R. Calder awarded the album 4 stars, and commented: "Russell has never been interested in writing music for any specific audience. He's an intellectual and has feelings about all manner of serious issues. He doesn't compartmentalise, because he understands that metaphysics, ecology, boogaloo and technical analysis move together. Imagine a dancing philosopher."[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by George Russell except as indicated

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Listen to the Silence" 6:09
2."Announcement" 0:27
3."Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature" 28:52
4."The African Game" 40:45
5."It's About Time" 12:22
6."So What"Miles Davis17:36

Personnel

References

  1. ^ "George Russell - The 80th Birthday Concert". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Fordham, John (October 20, 2005). "George Russell Living Time Orchestra: The 80th Birthday Concert". The Guardian. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "George Russell: The 80th Birthday Concert". AllMusic. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin Books. p. 1250.
  5. ^ a b Calder, Robert R. (September 16, 2006). "George Russell Living Time Orchestra: The 80th Birthday Concert". All About Jazz. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  6. ^ Steinberg, Aaron (December 1, 2005). "George Russell and the Living Time Orchestra: The 80th Birthday Concert". Jazz Times. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
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