Life Rays
{{Infobox album
| name = Life Rays
| type = Album
| artist = Walt Dickerson, Sirone, Andrew Cyrille
| cover = Life Rays.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1982
| recorded = February 4–5, 1982
| venue =
| studio = Barigozzi Studios, Milan, Italy
| genre = Jazz
| length = 45:45
| label = Soul Note
SN 121 028
| producer = Giovanni Bonandrini
| chronology = Walt Dickerson
| prev_title = To My Son
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Sirone
| type = Album
| prev_title = Artistry
| prev_year = 1979
| title = Life Rays
| year = 1982
| next_title = Sirone's Concord
| next_year = 2003
}}
}}
Life Rays is an album by vibraphonist Walt Dickerson, bassist Sirone, and drummer Andrew Cyrille. Dickerson's final release, it was recorded in Italy in 1982 for the Soul Note label.[http://www.jazzlists.com/SJ_Label_Soul_Note_1000.htm Soul Note Records main series discography] accessed March 29, 2017Fitzgerald, M., [http://jazzdiscography.com/Artists/Dickerson/wd-disc.php Walt Dickerson discography] accessed March 29, 2017[http://www.camjazz.com/labels/soul-note/walt-dickerson/8024709063526-life-rays-cd.html CAM Jazz] accessed March 29, 2017
Reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
|rev2 = The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings
|rev2score = {{Rating|3|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=373}}
}}
AllMusic gave the album 3 stars.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-hear-you-john-mw0000425500 AllMusic listing] accessed March 29, 2017
The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings wrote: "In the dynamic company of Sirone and Cyrille, Walt emerges as a particular kind of modernist, a radical-conservative... Dickerson seems to be striking harder than usual, Cyrille is faultless and the music has a strongly percussive quality. Sirone is magnificent whenever soloing..."
Writing for JazzTimes, Duck Baker commented that Dickerson's "conception of melodic/percussive development is really his own. He may at times sound impressionistic, as when he creates such long shimmering lines that they cease to be heard as lines and become a sonic waterfall, but it’s not just a pretty thing." Regarding Sirone and Cyrille, he stated: "The context calls for the utmost in understatement and controlled passion, and even staunch fans of these two may be surprised at how well they answer the call."{{cite web |url=https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/walt-dickersonsironeandrew-cyrille-life-rays |title=Walt Dickerson/Sirone/Andrew Cyrille: Life Rays |first=Duck |last=Baker |date=May 1, 1998 |website=Jazz Times |access-date=March 25, 2022}}
Track listing
All compositions by Walt Dickerson except where noted.
- "No Ordinary Man" – 9:02
- "Good Relationship" – 13:37
- "Life Rays" – 4:42
- "It Ain't Necessarily So" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 18:06
Personnel
References
{{reflist}}
{{Sirone (musician)}}
{{Walt Dickerson}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Walt Dickerson albums
Category:Black Saint/Soul Note albums