Blythe Spirit - Misplaced Pages

For the Noël Coward play, see Blithe Spirit. 1981 studio album by Arthur Blythe

Blythe Spirit

Studio album by Arthur Blythe

Released

1981

Recorded

1981

Jim Fishel & Arthur Blythe

Arthur Blythe chronology

Illusions
(1980)

Blythe Spirit
(1981)

Elaborations
(1982)

Blythe Spirit is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Arthur Blythe. It was his fourth album for the Columbia label, recorded in New York City in 1981.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states: "This is one of the most well-rounded Arthur Blythe records from his Columbia period... a fairly definitive Arthur Blythe recording, showing off his links to hard bop, r&b and the avant-garde". NME listed it as the 30th best album of 1981.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide

Track listing

All compositions by Arthur Blythe except as indicated

"Contemplation" - 6:54
"Faceless Woman" - 6:41
"Reverence" - 6:25
"Strike up the Band" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 2:44
"Misty" (Johnny Burke, Erroll Garner) - 7:24
"Spirits in the Field" - 3:29
"Just a Closer Walk With Thee" (Traditional) - 5:25

- Recorded at CBS Recording Studios, New York

Personnel

Arthur Blythe - alto saxophone
Abdul Wadud - cello (tracks 1-4 & 6)
Kelvyn Bell - guitar (tracks 1-4)
Bob Stewart - tuba (tracks 1-4, 6 & 7)
John Hicks - piano (track 5)
Amina Claudine Myers - organ (track 7)
Fred Hopkins - bass (track 5)
Bobby Battle (tracks 1-4), Steve McCall (track 5) - drums

References

Palmer, Robert (January 22, 1981). "JAZZ: 16 MUSICIANS PLAY FOR A 'ONE NIGHT STAND'". The New York Times. p. C19.
Santosuosso, Ernie (14 Feb 1982). "Blythe's Style Defies Label, He Plays It All". Arts. The Boston Globe. p. 1.
^ Yanow, S. Allmusic Review accessed July 19, 2010
"NME's best albums and tracks of 1981". NME. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 27. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.

v t e Arthur Blythe
Albums	The Grip Metamorphosis Bush Baby In the Tradition Lenox Avenue Breakdown Illusions Blythe Spirit Elaborations Light Blue: Arthur Blythe Plays Thelonious Monk Da-Da Night Song Spirits in the Field Blythe Byte Focus Exhale

v t e John Hicks
Years given are for the recording(s), not first release, unless stated otherwise.
As leader or co-leader	Hells Bells (1975) Steadfast (1975) After the Morning (West 54, 1979) Some Other Time (1981) John Hicks (1982) In Concert (1984) Inc. 1 (1985) Luminous (and Elise Wood, 1985–88) Two of a Kind (and Ray Drummond, 1986–87) I'll Give You Something to Remember Me By (1987) East Side Blues (1988) Naima's Love Song (1988) Oleo (New York Unit, 1989) Rhythm-a-Ning (and Kenny Barron, 1989) Blue Bossa (New York Unit, 1990) Is That So? (1990) Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Seven (1990) Power Trio (1990) St. Thomas: Tribute to Great Tenors (1991) Tribute to George Adams (1991–92) After the Morning (Dominic Sciscente Music, 1992) Blues March: Portrait of Art Blakey (1992) Crazy for You (1992) Friends Old and New (1992) Moanin': Portrait of Art Blakey (1992) Now's the Time (New York Unit, 1992) Over the Rainbow (New York Unit, 1992) Single Petal of a Rose (1992) The Missouri Connection (and Jay McShann, 1992) Beyond Expectations (1993) Lover Man: A Tribute to Billie Holiday (1993) Akari (New York Unit, 1994) Duality (and Peter Leitch, 1994) Gentle Rain (1994) In the Mix (1994) Heart Beats (Keystone Trio, 1995) Piece for My Peace (1995) Cry Me a River (1997) Newklear Music (Keystone Trio, 1997) Nightwind: An Erroll Garner Songbook (1997) Something to Live For: A Billy Strayhorn Songbook (1997) Trio + Strings (1997) Hicks Time (released 1998) Impressions of Mary Lou (1998) Beautiful Friendship (and Elise Wood, 2000) Music in the Key of Clark (2001) Fatha's Day: An Earl Hines Songbook (2003) Twogether (with Frank Morgan, 2005–6) I Remember You (2006) On the Wings of an Eagle (2006) Sweet Love of Mine (2006)
With Art Blakey	'S Make It (and The Jazz Messengers, 1964) Soul Finger (and The Jazz Messengers, 1965) Hold On, I'm Coming (1966) Child's Dance (and The Jazz Messengers, 1972)
With Arthur Blythe	Illusions (1980) Blythe Spirit (1981) Blythe Byte (2001) Exhale (2002)
With David Murray	Morning Song (1983) Sketches of Tokyo (co-led, 1985) I Want to Talk About You (1986) Ming's Samba (1988) Ballads for Bass Clarinet (1991) David Murray/James Newton Quintet (1991) Fast Life (1991) MX (1992) For Aunt Louise (1993) Jazzosaurus Rex (1993) Love and Sorrow (1993) Saxmen (1993) Like a Kiss that Never Ends (2000)
With Pharoah Sanders	Journey to the One (1979) Pharoah Sanders Live... (1981) Rejoice (1981) Africa (1987) A Prayer Before Dawn (1987)
With others	Solid! (Eric Alexander, 1998) Sunday in New York (Eric Alexander, 2005) Eby (Hamiet Bluiett, 1984) Fast Last! (Lester Bowie, 1974) Now It's My Turn (Betty Carter, 1976) The Audience with Betty Carter (1979) It's Not About the Melody (Betty Carter, 1992) Gardenias for Lady Day (James Carter, 2003) The Bassist: Homage to Diversity (Richard Davis, released 2001) Structurally Sound (Booker Ervin, 1966) Flying Colors (Ricky Ford, 1980) Interpretations (Ricky Ford, 1982) Awakening (Sonny Fortune, 1985) The Outside Within (Chico Freeman, 1978) Spirit Sensitive (Chico Freeman, 1978–79) Habana (Roy Hargrove, 1997) Again and Again (Oliver Lake, 1991) 52nd Street Themes (Joe Lovano, 1999) On This Day ... Live at The Vanguard (Joe Lovano, 2002) Streams of Expression (Joe Lovano, 2005) Hi Voltage (Hank Mobley, 1967) Taru (Lee Morgan, 1968) Staying on the Watch (Sonny Simmons, 1966) Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival (Charles Tolliver, 1972) Love Remains (Bobby Watson, 1986)

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