Crosscurrent

Album Description

"Crosscurrent" is a live album by the legendary jazz multi-instrumentalist Sam Rivers, recorded on January 1, 1981, at the Jazz Unité festival. This captivating release, featuring the Sam Rivers Quartet, is a testament to Rivers' virtuosity and his significant contributions to the free jazz and avant-garde scenes. The album is a dynamic blend of hard bop and free jazz, showcasing Rivers' mastery of the saxophone, flute, and piano.

"Crosscurrent" spans a concise yet intense 38 minutes, packed with eight powerful tracks that highlight the quartet's improvisational prowess. The album opens with "Swirl," setting the tone for the exhilarating journey that follows. Standout tracks like "Riptide" and "Rapture" demonstrate the band's ability to seamlessly transition between structured compositions and free-form improvisation. The album concludes with "Eddy," leaving the audience with a sense of the quartet's boundless creativity.

Released under the Rivbea Music label, "Crosscurrent" is a live recording that captures the raw energy and spontaneity of a live performance. The album is a must-listen for jazz enthusiasts and anyone interested in the avant-garde and free jazz genres. Sam Rivers' "Crosscurrent" is a timeless addition to any jazz collection, offering a glimpse into the innovative and boundary-pushing world of live jazz performance.

1 januari 1981

2015 Rivbea Music

1981 Rivbea Music

About Sam Rivers

Sam Rivers, a titan of the jazz world, was an American multi-instrumentalist and composer whose career spanned over seven decades. Born in Oklahoma in 1923, Rivers was a key figure in the development of free jazz and avant-garde music, known for his virtuosic skills on tenor and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica, piano, and even viola. His innovative approach to composition and performance made him a standout among his peers, collaborating with legends like Miles Davis and Cecil Taylor. Rivers' work was marked by its intensity and communicative power, making even the most complex free-form music accessible to a wide audience. In the 1970s, he pioneered the New York loft-jazz scene, opening the iconic Studio Rivbea, a cultural arts center that became a hub for jazz artists. His prolific career includes numerous albums as a leader and sideman, showcasing his unique musical vision and enduring influence on the jazz landscape.