Seasons is a live, triple-LP album by multi-instrumentalist Alan Silva. It was recorded in December 1970 at ORTF Studio 104 in Paris, France, and was released in 1971 by BYG Records as part of their Actuel series. On the album, Silva is joined by a large ensemble known as the Celestrial Communication Orchestra.
The music recorded on Seasons came about when Silva was asked to organize a concert at short notice following a cancellation by Stan Getz. Silva assembled what he called "a once in a lifetime All Star Band," constructing the music "right there on the stage." The concert, which was broadcast live and well-recorded, was attended by an overflow crowd, and organizers had to set up speakers outside the hall. Silva recalled: "The engineers thought it was a fantastic challenge: unlimited sound density with no breaks, everybody had a cymbal, three pianos, all mixed down live to two channels. When I heard the tapes, I absolutely insisted they release it all, as a triple album."
Reception
In a review for AllMusic, Steve Loewy called the album a "remarkable gargantuan effort... for which the term 'masterpiece' is not too far a stretch," and wrote: "this is a magnificent, rambling, chaotic, lavish, and often meandering spectacle... It takes the concept of 'sheets of sound' to the next level... The results are absolutely thrilling, if not always inspiring, and there are many high points... the level of improvisation remains consistently at the highest levels. It is wild and free, and the listener receptive to free improvisation is likely to be held in rapturous attention. Destined to be a classic of its genre, Seasons offers a full-scale radical bombardment from many perspectives, resulting in a smorgasbord of delights."
Steve Moffic, writing for Jazz Digest, stated: "Seasons begins with a rumbling, rippling theme explored by three pianos... which suggests the forthcoming 'storm.' Strong solos by Joseph Jarman and Michel Portal on reeds and Silva on stringed instruments are highlights. The set is long, intense, lagging and wild."
Track listing Composed by Alan Silva.
Personnel Alan Silva – bass, violin, sarangi Steve Lacy – soprano saxophone Michel Portal – alto saxophone, Clarinet Robin Kenyatta – alto saxophone, flute Ronnie Beer – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute Joseph Jarman – saxophone, flute, bassoon Roscoe Mitchell – saxophone, flute, oboe Alan Shorter – trumpet Lester Bowie – trumpet, flugelhorn Bernard Vitet – trumpet, French horn Dieter Gewissler – violin Jouk Minor – viola Kent Carter – cello Irene Aebi – cello, celeste Beb Guérin (credited as "bg") – bass Malachi Favors (credited as "mf") – bass Dave Burrell – piano Joachim Kühn – piano Bobby Few (credited as "bf") – piano Famoudou Don Moye – drums, percussion Jerome Cooper – drums, percussion Oliver Johnson – timpani, percussion
References