The Squid's Ear Magazine

Dixon, Bill

Odyssey (Solo Works) [6 CD BOX SET]

Dixon, Bill: Odyssey (Solo Works) [6 CD BOX SET] (Archive Edition)

This 2001 limited 6-CD box set of late trumpeter Bill Dixon's solo work in 5 CDs plus 1 CD of Dixon speaking, including two 32-page booklets containing essays, interviews, & writings, plus reproductions of 13 Dixon paintings, along with 3 inserts; an essential example of Dixon's incredible creative output, the final copies of which were recently discovered and available one last time.
 

Price: $99.95


Quantity:

Out of Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 24.00 units

Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Bill Dixon-trumpet, flugelhorn, piano


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




Includes postcard

UPC: 769791969346

Label: Archive Edition
Catalog ID: AE 51019251CD
Squidco Product Code: 25743

Format: 6 CDs
Condition: New
Released: 2001
Country: USA
Packaging: Box Set - 6 CDs
Recorded at IMBSRP (Institute of Black Music Studies, Research & Performance),

except tracks 1-10 and 1-11, recorded in New York City, 1970-71 by IMBSRP,

except tracks 1-10 and 1-11, recorded in New York City, 1970-71 by IMBSRP, track 3-1, recorded in Jerusalem, Israel, 1990 by the Institute of Contemporary Music,

except tracks 1-10 and 1-11, recorded in New York City, 1970-71 by IMBSRP, and tracks 6-1 to 6-22, recorded at Northern Track Recording Studios, Wilmington, VT.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Odyssey is the definitive compendium of solo trumpet music by Bill Dixon, as compiled by the artist. Dixon (1925-2010) was known primarily for his small and large ensemble masterpieces of the decades between Intents and Purposes (1967) and Tapestries (2009).

While he appeared infrequently in solo performances, he was continually evolving in studio through these years a remarkably nuanced and powerful solo music -- especially during the mid-1970s, as a counterpart to daily work with student orchestras on large ensemble pieces. Small offerings of these solo gems were published relatively obscurely in the early 1980s in Italy, and a larger batch were hand selected by the composer for a two-LP collection in 1985.

In 2000, Dixon gathered into Odyssey the entirety of his oeuvre for solo trumpet, adding more than two hours of further solo pieces, and a small number of additional duet recordings. The tracks were selected and sequenced by Mr. Dixon, who curated the entireproject for release on his own label, Archive Edition. Veteran engineer Kevin Reeves (Capitol, Universal; Grammy-nominated for Revenant (2015) work) mastered from original tapes exclusively, deriving unprecedented clarity on these exquisite recordings.

The set spans five CDs of trumpet solos and one full disc of Dixon's enigmatic spoken commentary for the project. Two printed folios are also in the box: In one are further emphatic annotations by Dixon ensemble veterans Stephen Horenstein and Jason Zappa, and historian Ben Young; and the Dixon interview with journalist Graham Taylor-Lock. A second full-color folio Works on Paper reproduces 13 of Dixon's stunning ink and acrylic visual creations, mostly from the late 1990s, and unpublished prior to this set.

Recordings span 1970-92, made primarily in Dixon's studio In Bennington, Vermont, with earlier examples from New York, and a later solo performance from Israel. Also included are Dixon's only released works for solo piano, the full set of "Relay" duets for his own piano and trumpet, an excerpt of the 1971 magnum opus "Summerdance", featuring drummers Laurence Cook and David Moss, and one preferred example of the duets with keyboardist Leslie Winston.

Odyssey was released in 2001 -- assembled on the highest artistic level, according to Bill Dixon's production standards. It also has been subject to DIY distribution since that time, so in many ways this 2018 re-launch will be a first hearing for many."-Archive Edition


Includes postcard

Artist Biographies

"Bill Dixon (October 5, 1925 Ð June 16, 2010) was an American musician, composer, visual artist, and educator. Dixon was one of the seminal figures in the free jazz movement. He played the trumpet, flugelhorn, and piano, often using electronic delay and reverberation.

Dixon hailed from Nantucket, Massachusetts. His family later moved to Harlem, New York City when he was about 7. His studies in music came relatively late in life, at the Hartnette Conservatory of Music (1946Ð1951). He studied painting at Boston University and the WPA Arts School and the Art Students League. During the early 1950s he had a job at the United Nations, and founded the UN Jazz Society.

In the 1960s Dixon established himself as a major force in the jazz avant-garde movement. In 1964, Dixon organized and produced the 'October Revolution in Jazz', four days of music and discussions at the Cellar CafŽ in Manhattan. The participants included notable musicians Cecil Taylor and Sun Ra among others. It was the first free-jazz festival of its kind. Dixon later founded the Jazz Composers Guild, a cooperative organization that sought to create bargaining power with club owners and effect greater media visibility. He was relatively little recorded during this period, though he co-led some releases with Archie Shepp and appeared on Cecil Taylor's Blue Note record Conquistador! in 1966. In 1967, he composed and conducted a score for the United States Information Agency film The Wealth of a Nation, produced and directed by William Greaves.

He was Professor of Music at Bennington College, Vermont, from 1968 to 1995, where he founded the college's Black Music Division. From 1970 to 1976 he played "in total isolation from the market places of this music", as he puts it. Solo trumpet recordings from this period were later released by Cadence Jazz Records, and later collected on the self-released multi-CD set Odyssey along with other material.

He was one of four featured musicians in the Canadian documentary Imagine the Sound (along with Cecil Taylor, Archie Shepp, and Paul Bley), 1981.

In recent years he recorded with Cecil Taylor, Tony Oxley, William Parker, Rob Mazurek, and many others.

Dixon's playing was noted for his extensive use of the pedal register, playing below the trumpet's commonly ascribed range, and well into the trombone and tuba registers. He made extensive use of half-valve techniques and the use of breath with or without engaging the traditional trumpet embouchure. He largely eschewed the use of mutes, the exception being his use of the harmon mute, with or without stem.

On June 16, 2010, Bill Dixon died in his sleep at his home after suffering from an undisclosed illness."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Dixon)
11/20/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



CD1



1. When Winter Comes (1976) 8:15

2. Webern Work Study (1973-74) 1:14

3. Tracings II (1974-75) 1:22

4. The Long Walk (1974-75) 7:44

5. Momenti (1974-75) 2:42

6. Stanza (1976) 5:00

7. I See Your Fancy Footwork #1 (1973) 8:05

8. I See Your Fancy Footwork #2 (1973) 5:28

9. I See Your Fancy Footwork #3 (1973) 2:52

10. Mosaic (1970-71) 0:43

11. Albert Ayler (1970-71) 0:59

12. Summerdance - Part 1 (1971) 8:28

13. Tracings (1974) 9:00

14. The Long Line (1973-74) 5:44

15. Swirls (1974-75) 2:29

CD2



1. Requiem For Booker Little (1975-76) 5:07

2. Masques I (1975-76) 8:38

3. The End Of Silence (1973) 0:59

4.Odyssey/Interruptus (1974) 5:35

5. Murmurs (1974) 6:46

6. Flame (1971-82) 3:09

7. Meta-pedal (1981-82) 6:11

8. Elegantissmo (1992) 9:51

9. Changes (1973) 2:54

10. Dominoes (1973) 2:52

11. Pyramide (1973) 3:57

12. Long Alone Song (1974) 6:34

13. Shrike (1973) 0:57

CD3



1. Jerusalem (1990) 26:50

2. Umbra E Luce - For Sid Makay (1973) 11:31

3. The Somnambulist (1973-74) 4:08

4. Conncordde (1974-75) 4:37

5. Fortunata (1970) 8:13

6. Graffiti Sui Soffiti 1:51

CD4



1. Postcards (1970) 5:56

2. For Wallace Thurman (1973) 4:22

3. Pensieroso (1973) 1:01

4. Masai (1973) 1:04

5. Sttretta (1973) 1:40

6. Chalk Circle - Blue (1973) 2:39

7. Shadowland (1973) 6:25

8. Spaces (1973) 1:18

9. The Cloisters (1973) 2:06

10. Chromma (1973) 1:34

11. Sketch For Ernie Chritchlow (1973) 3:56

12. More Than Something (1973) 1:36

13. Manuscripts For Fathers & Sons (1973) 4:22

14. Poemm Per I Delicati (1973) 1:48

15. Circle Chalk - Red (1973) 5:26

16. Hush (1970) 3:59

CD5



1. Relay - Dance #1 (1970) 9:41

2. Relay - Dance #3 (1970) 2:10

3. Relay - Dance #4 (1970) 2:45

4. Relay - Dance #5 (1970) 3:21

5. Relay - Dance #6 (1970) 4:35

6. Relay - Dance #7 (1970) 6:20

7. Relay - Dance #8 (1970) 5:53

8. Relay - Dance #2 (1970) 1:47

9. Chiasmus (1970) 7:17

10. Shards (1970) 1:50

11. Pasquinade (1970) 6:00

CD6br>


1. Introduction To The Questions 1:03

2. How Do You Call The Music You Play? 6:26

3. Does Your Music Express A General Conception? 1:54

4. Do You Think Before Or During Improvisation? 0:47

5. Is Swing Important? 0:45

6. Do You Enjoy Playing? 1:08

7. Is Beauty Your Goal? 0:36

8. What Is Freedom In Music? 2:28

9. Are You Able To Make A Living From Music? 0:54

10. What Would You Like To Do In The Near Future? 2:08

11. How Do You See The Future? 2:05

12. Odyssey Preface 2:19

13. Teaching 14:25

14. The Solo 0:32

15. The Odyssey Solo Work 2:42

16. Teaching In Madison, 1971-72 11:57

17. Genesis Of The Solos 3:45

18. Solos: Craft And Language 1:35

19. Solos: Notation And Spatiality 3:19

20. Solos: Composing Oneself And Composition 3:25

21. Solos: Philosophy And Communication 4:25

22. Conclusion 1:46

Related Categories of Interest:

Box Sets

Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Jazz
Recordings featuring brass instruments - trumpets, trombones, tubas, other horns
Solo Artist Recordings
Staff Picks & Recommended Items

Search for other titles on the label:
Archive Edition.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Other Recommended Releases:
Daniel, Ted
Solo At Abbazia San Zeno, Pisa, Italy
(Ujamaa Records)
Recorded during the Jazz Festival in Pisa, Italy while trumpeter Ted Daniel was touring through Europe, good fortune making an opportunity for Daniel to present his first fully spontaneous solo performance, captured at Abbrazia San Zeno and dedicated to his father, where Daniel plays with authenticity, relaxed warmth, impressive technique and spiritual creativity.
Zanuttini, Flavio
La Notte
(Creative Sources)
Italian jazz trumpeter Flavio Zanuttini (Abbey Town Jazz Orchestra) in a solo album exploring the relationship between the primordial sensoriality and vision of the Underworld, conceived and presented through extended techniques and often peculiar approaches to the trumpet as he tells his unusual tale of epic times.



Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought:
Kuzu (Rempis / Dorji / Damon)
Purple Dark Opal
(Aerophonic)
In 2018 on their 2nd tour, the Kuzu trio of Dave Rempis on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones, Tashi Dorji on guitar, and Tyler Damon on drums, captured this, their 15th concert in the tour, at The Sugar Maple, in Milwaukee, an extended improvisation that lives up to its title in dark ruminations that reveal beauty and rare color through powerful and passionate playing.
AMM (Previost / Rowe / Tilbury)
An Unintended Legacy [3 CDs]
(Matchless)
A beautiful 3-CD set with a hardcover book presenting 3 full concerts from 2015 & 2016 of the AMM trio configuration of John Tilbury (piano), Keith Rowe (guitar) and Eddie Prevost (percussion). The 70 page book, dedicated to saxophonist Lou Gare, includes an AMM discography, plus photos, and essays by Paige Mitchell and Allen Fisher; Keith Rowe; Eddie Prevost; and Seymour Wright.
Harris, Beaver / Don Pullen 360-degree Experience
A Well-Kept Secret
(Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Released in 1984 on Hal Wilner's Shemp records, this is the 1st reissue for late drummer Beaver Harris' 360-degree Experience with pianist Don Pullen on piano, in a stellar band with saxophonists Ricky Ford, Hamiet Bluiett, bassist Buster Williams, percussion from Candido & steel drummer Francis Haynes, and four french horn players, a truly forward-thinking jazz album.
Gustafsson, Mats / Jason Adasiewicz
Timeless
(Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Unexpected directions in this meeting between Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and Chicago vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, in an introspective album of beautiful tonal conversations, relaxed and sophisticated dialogs that mostly eschews the more aggressive side of both musicians in deference to a thoughtful, reflective and elegant set of tunes.
Vandermark, Ken / Michael Snow
Duol
(Corbett vs. Dempsey)
Chicago saxophonist Ken Vandermark is fascinated with the visual arts, and was drawn in the 60s to Toronto visual artist, director of the "New York Eye And Ear" film, and most notably here, pianist, Michael Snow; in 2015 they performed together for the first time, this startlingly explosive and informed album the complete recording of that event.
Rempis / Piet / Daisy
Throw Tomatoes
(Astral Spirits)
Bringing together two live shows from 2017 of the trio of Chicago luminaries, Dave Rempis on saxophones, Tim Daisy on drums, and Matt Piet on piano, in an exhilarating album of free jazz that shows the excitement of all three in what are only their 3rd and 4th live gigs together, each driving the other to enthusiastic heights amidst contemplative and playful moments.
Mahall, Rudi / Alexander von Schlippenbach
So Far
(Relative Pitch)
Pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach and clarinetist Rudi Mahall have been exploring the music of jazz and free improvisation for decades in their own bands or together in Globe Unity Orchestra; here they are heard in their essential element as a duo, pushing their music in rapid runs and elegant and emotional moments with imposing technique and authoritative confidence.
Oyauchi, Aishi
Hidden Though It Is Difficult
(Armageddon Nova)
Aishi Oyauchi is a free improvising alto saxophonist in the tradition of Kaoru Abe and who hails from the same first generation of Japanese free improvisers from the 1960s; this album finds him performing on alto and soprano sax at Performing Art Center, using space and abrupt diversions alongside unusual tone and technique with percussive asides.
Oyauchi, Aishi
Wrong Exit
(Armageddon Nova )
Under-recorded but legendary Japanese free improvising saxophonist Aishi Oyauchi in a double CD, performing on alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, and piano through 52 untitled and inventive pieces, from a few seconds in length to several minutes, presented as 7 composite tracks; part of the Armageddon Nova Series exploring radical free improvisation.
Suzuki, Akio / John Butcher
Immediate Landscapes
(Ftarri)
At the same event in Scotland that John Butcher recorded his excellent "Resonant Spaces" album, he also joined forces with sound artist Akio Suzuki on a variety of objects and sound devices to record the first 5 tracks of this unusual album of very free improv, the last track by the duo recording at the 2015 Ftarri Festival at SuperDeluxe in Tokyo.
Drake, Bob
Antiquities [6-CD BOX SET]
(Recommended Records)
Collecting multi-instrumentalist & vocalist Bob Drake's albums Little Black Train, The Skull Mailbox and Other Horrors, XIII Songs and a Thing, The Shunned Country, and Bob's Drive-In in a solid box set, with a bonus CD, a specially curated collection of outtakes and oddities from this amazing avant-rocker, a member of Thinking Plague, 5uu's, Hail and The Science Group.
Honsinger, Tristan / Nicolas Calioa / Joshua Zubot
In The Sea
(Relative Pitch)
The transatlantic string trio of Amsterdam-based cellist Tristan Honsinger (also on voice) with Montreal free improvisers violinist Joshua Zubot and double bassist Nicolas Caloia in an album of informed improvisation that bring an upbeat approach to authoritative dialog which is both sharp-witted and irreverent, but never less than engaging.
Rempis / Abrams / Ra + Baker
Perihelion [2 CDs]
(Aerophonic)
Following their 2013 release "Aphelion", the working trio of Dave Rempis on sax, Joshua Abrams on bass & clarinet, and Avreeayl Ra on drums release their 2nd collaboration in a 2-CD album of live and studio improvisations, adding Jim Baker on keys and electronics for the 2nd disc.
Moondoc, Jemeel
The Zoopkeeper's House (Trio/Quartet/Quintet)
(Relative Pitch)
A series of exceptional compositions by saxophonist Jemeel Moondoc plus one by Alice Coltrane, performed in a variety of group settings, from duos to quintet, with sidemen Matthew Shipp, Roy Campbell, Steve Swell, Hilliard Greene, and Newman Taylor Baker.
Cian Ethrie
Volatiles W/ Aspartame & Candid Mobile Blues
(Lucky Kitchen)



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC