Fire Music (Archie Shepp album)

{{Infobox album

| name = Fire Music

| type = studio

| artist = Archie Shepp

| cover = Fire_Music.jpg

| alt =

| released = September 1965{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PykEAAAAMBAJ&dq=archie+shepp+fire+music&pg=PA60|title=Billboard|date=September 11, 1965}}

| recorded = February 16 and March 9, 1965

| venue =

| studio = Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

| genre = Jazz

| length = 40:30

| label = Impulse!
A-86

| producer = Bob Thiele

| prev_title = Four for Trane

| prev_year = 1964

| next_title = On This Night

| next_year = 1965

| misc = {{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative cover

| type = Album

| cover = fire.music.jpg

| border =

| alt =

| caption =

}}

}}

Fire Music is a studio album by jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp released on Impulse! Records in 1965. "Malcolm, Malcolm Semper Malcolm" is dedicated to Malcolm X, whilst "Los Olvidados" is a homage to the 1950 film of the same name. Featured musicians include trumpeter Ted Curson, trombonist Joe Orange, alto saxophonist Marion Brown, bassist Reggie Johnson and drummer Joe Chambers.

Reception

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r147446|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic review]

|rev2 = Down Beat

|rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}Down Beat: December 2, 1965 vol. 32, no. 25

| rev3 = The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide

| rev3Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite book|editor-last=Swenson|editor-first=J. |year=1985|title=The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide|url=https://archive.org/details/rollingstonejazz00swen|url-access=registration|publisher=Random House/Rolling Stone|location=USA|isbn=0-394-72643-X|pages=[https://archive.org/details/rollingstonejazz00swen/page/179 179]}}

|rev4 = The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings

|rev4score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |authorlink1=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |authorlink2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=1289}}

}}

The AllMusic review by Scott Yanow states: "This particular early Archie Shepp recording has its strong moments, although it is a bit erratic... Overall, this set, even with its faults, is recommended".

Writing for All About Jazz, Robert Gilbert called Fire Music "an often-fascinating album, rich in compositional and improvisational prowess", and commented: "Shepp puts together a record that is both challenging and accessible to most listeners... Fire Music is an album that belongs in any serious jazz fan’s collection."{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fire-music-archie-shepp-impulse-review-by-robert-gilbert.php |title=Archie Shepp: Fire Music |last=Gilbert |first=Robert |date=November 3, 2002 |website=All About Jazz |access-date=April 22, 2021}}

Track listing

  1. "Hambone" (Archie Shepp) – 12:29
  2. "Los Olvidados" (Shepp) – 8:54
  3. "Malcolm, Malcolm - Semper Malcolm" (Shepp) – 4:48
  4. "Prelude to a Kiss" (Ellington, Gordon, Mills) – 4:50
  5. "The Girl from Ipanema" (DeMoraes, Gimbel, Jobim) – 8:36
  6. "Hambone" [Live] – 11:53 Bonus track on CD, recorded live at the Village Gate on March 28, 1965

Personnel

References