Somalia (album)
{{Infobox album
| name = Somalia
| type = Album
| artist = Billy Harper
| cover = Somalia (album).jpg
| alt =
| released = 1995
| recorded = October 18–21, 1993
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Jazz
| length = 60:32
| label = Evidence ECD 22133-2
| producer = Billy Harper, Mark Rappaport{{cite magazine |last1=Verna |first1=Paul |title=Albums — Somalia by Billy Harper |magazine=Billboard |date=Feb 10, 1996 |volume=108 |issue=6 |page=67}}
| chronology = Billy Harper
| prev_title = Live on Tour in the Far East Vol. 3
| prev_year = 1991
| next_title = If Our Hearts Could Only See
| next_year = 1998
}}
Somalia is an album by the American saxophonist Billy Harper.{{cite journal |last1=Macnie |first1=Jim |title=Somalia |journal=DownBeat |date=May 1996 |volume=63 |issue=5 |page=51}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/24/obituaries/madeleine-yayodele-nelson-69-percussion-groups-founder-dies.html|title=Madeleine Yayodele Nelson, 69, Percussion Group's Founder, Dies|first=Giovanni|last=Russonello|work=The New York Times |date=September 24, 2018|via=NYTimes.com}} It was released in 1995 on the Evidence label.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c-FdDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT178|title=Right to the Juke Joint: A Personal History of American Music|first=Patrick B.|last=Mullen|date=May 4, 2018|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=978-0-252-05031-2 |via=Google Books}}[http://billyharper.com/ Billy Harper discography] accessed May 5, 2015
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}
|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=650}}
}}
The Vancouver Sun determined that "whether by design, osmosis or accident, Harper sounds like Coltrane reincarnate."{{cite news |last1=Andrews |first1=Marke |title=RECORDINGS |work=Vancouver Sun |date=23 Jan 1996 |page=C3}} The Globe and Mail concluded that "the performances tend to be rather cumbersome, thanks to the efforts of not one, but two drummers, Newman Baker and Horacee Arnold."{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Mark |title=RECORDINGS JAZZ Somalia |work=The Globe and Mail |date=27 Jan 1996 |page=C5}}
In his review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow stated: "This CD contains some of Billy Harper's finest playing in years".{{allMusic|first=Scott|last=Yanow|class=album|id=mw0000646635|title=Somalia – Review|accessdate= May 5, 2015}}
Track listing
All compositions by Billy Harper.
- "Somalia" – 13:37
- "Thy Will Be Done" – 21:56
- "Quest" – 12:45
- "Light Within" – 7:59
- "Quest in 3" – 4:15
Personnel
- Billy Harper – tenor saxophone, cowbell, voice
- Eddie Henderson – trumpet
- Francesca Tanksley – piano
- Louie Spears – bass
- Horacee Arnold, Newman Taylor Baker – drums
- Madeleine Yayodele Nelson – shekere
References
{{reflist}}
{{Billy Harper}}
{{Authority control}}