Search - Sam Rivers :: Fuchsia Swing Song

An Unknown Masterwork

Stephen Silberman | SF, CA USA | 05/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a major album that has fallen through the cracks, a masterpiece no one's ever heard of. If you ever liked Dave Holland's "Conference of the Birds" or Tony Williams' "Spring," you simply must get this record. It's pretty "inside" for Rivers, but it's super-melodic and lovely, while swinging like mad. An incredible record, well worth the price!"

Impressive Debut, Fine Introduction

Richard B. Luhrs | Jackson Heights, NY United States | 11/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"FUCHSIA SWING SONG was Sam Rivers' debut as a leader, and is unique not only in terms of its accessibility but also in its fabulous lineup of musicians. Joining Rivers - who plays tenor saxophone exclusively on this set - are the brilliantly eclectic pianist Jaki Byard (best known for his stunning work in various contexts with Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy in the early sixties) and the justly legendary bass/drums team of Ron Carter and Tony Williams, who at the time of this recording were regularly gracing a variety of Blue Note sessions in addition to their steady gig with Miles Davis. FUCHSIA SWING SONG is, to my knowledge, the only date by this particular quartet, and a fine blend it is. As sole composer and primary soloist, Rivers is very much the dominant force herein, but typically he leaves plenty of space for his sidemen to contribute their own statements - listen, for example, to Carter's swooning and atmospheric bass solo in the middle of "Cyclic Episode," or Byard's constant prompting/doubling of the leader throughout "Luminous Monolith." For his part, Rivers maintains a remarkably balanced presence, skipping in and out of the mainstream so nimbly that you'll find yourself grooving just as easily to his sudden atonal bursts as to his lilting balladry on "Beatrice." The spare and rather similar nature of most of the album's melodies adds greatly to this cohesiveness; indeed, there are times when it almost feels like a suite. The well-defined personalities of the artist and his associates give this unique session its own personality, one which neither Rivers nor Blue Note would ever quite replicate anywhere else. I should add that this edition of the CD, though pricey and difficult to obtain, is a vast improvement over the original mid-90s Japanese release, on which the piano sounded as if it had been recorded from half a mile away. The LP-style packaging is likewise a welcome change, as FUCHSIA SWING SONG also boasts one of Blue Note's coolest covers. Definitely check it out."