GORDON BECK — Celebration (review)

GORDON BECK — Celebration album cover Album · 1985 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Sean Trane
A fairly undocumented album in most jazz circles, this dates from 85 and features Gordon Beck with his Quintet, made from some 70’s London-scene stalwarts like Stan Sulzmann (sax) and Frank Ricotti (vibes), while the rhythm section is made of Hutton’s bass and Airguelles’ drum kit from the next generation of musicians. The album was recorded live at the Bracknell Festival in the summer of 84.

The 7-parts Celebration Suite is splattered all over the album’s length and feature a short but grandiose opening quickly dissolving in dissonance, a lengthy piano solo, and an even-shorter finale, reprising the opening theme. The four parts proper of Celebration are much more interesting, but the way they are written or cut, make it difficult to describe, but we’re definitely n the typical British 70’s jazz mould, where the piano plays a primordial role just like the rockier drumming (especially in Part II), but it’s on the compositional side that things really make a difference. Clearly the album’s centrepieces are the lengthier Part II and III, even if my preference goes for the former, although the latter is a bit more frenzied. As for the fourth part, it presents a more reflective and pensive side, with Sulzmann’s sax over-ruling Beck’s excellent piano.

Actually when listening to Celebration, it’s relatively hard to understand how this album is so overlooked (even absent from most guides and reference books), because I personally think it is one of Beck’s best works (with Sunbird a close second), if you’re into adventurous jazz. I believe that this album’s only CD reissue is part of a 2on1 album, from the French JMS label, coupled with the Reasons album. If you stumble on it, don’t hesitate a second
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple vol.3 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikolaj Trzaska, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple, Vol.1 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mikołaj Trzaska / Ingebrigt Håker Flaten / Paal Nilssen-Love : The Last Temple Vol.2 Avant-Garde Jazz
MIKOŁAJ TRZASKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sustain Avant-Garde Jazz
AALY TRIO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sunset Park Post Bop
TOBIAS MEINHART
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

FASCINATING RHYTHM - The Amazing Keystone Big Band feat. Neima Naouri
THE AMAZING KEYSTONE BIG BAND
snobb· 1 day ago
Alicante
RENAUD GARCIA-FONS
js· 1 day ago
She's Forty with Me
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Tall Tillie's Too Tight
WILTON CRAWLEY
js· 1 day ago
Rhoda Scott Ladies and Gentlemen - special guest : David Linx
RHODA SCOTT
snobb· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed