THURGOOD MARSHALL AND BROWN VS. BOARD OF EDUCATION: A DREAM OF EQUAL EDUCATION, 1954 [EDIT]
Wadada Leo Smith
Ten Freedom Summers
Cuneiform : 2012
WLS, trumpet; Anthony Davis, piano; John Lindberg, bass; Pheeroan akLaff, drums; Susie Ibarra, drums.
It’s been a while since we’ve had a contest on the site, so we’re doing a major giveaway — offering a brand new copy of Wadada Leo Smith’s epic 4-CD set Ten Freedom Summers. In a full page rave review, The Wire recently dubbed it “a monumental evocation of America’s Civil Rights movement.”
Not only is this one of our favorites of the year, but it’s one of the few jazz albums whose release can genuinely be termed an event. The culmination of 30 years effort, Ten Freedom Summers is one of the defining works of Smith’s career. Each of the four discs is packed with over 70 minutes of new music, each track an abstract evocation of a moment within the Civil Rights struggle.
You only have to check the track credits above to see that he’s assembled one of his best Golden Quintets – who alternate and combine on some tracks with the Southwest Chamber Music ensemble. Throughout, the music ripples with dramatic melodies, tender textures, stirring rhythms, and empathic and riveting interplay. This isn’t some musty historical song cycle, but vital and surprising music that’s built on immediacy and potent ambiguity.
Our thanks to the fine folks at Cuneiform Records for providing this prize — and for letting us share an exclusive excerpt from the album.
HOW THE CONTEST WORKS:
There are two parts to winning this magnificent set:
1) Tell us your favorite Wadada Leo Smith track or album, and, in the same comment…
2) We’re thinking of a number between 1 and 200. Put your guess in a comment to this post, along with your song choice. One guess only and please try not to duplicate other selections; check through the comments before entering. Contest deadline: Midnight EST, Wednesday, July 18th.
The person who nails our number — or comes closest — wins. Good luck!
at 8:29 pm
Touch the Earth. 5.
at 8:44 pm
whoops, number already taken. New number is 194.
at 9:58 am
Divine Love
#47
at 11:36 pm
Tastalun
17
at 12:42 am
kabell years and the number 12
at 7:27 am
Tabligh. #36
at 7:45 am
Sorry…. ‘Rosa Parks’ from Tabligh. #36
at 9:55 am
The duets with Ed Blackwell! #92
at 10:16 am
My intro to his music was Reflectativity … so:
Reflectativity
73
at 10:16 am
procession of the great ancestry-nessa
57
at 10:17 am
The Little Rock Nine: A Force For Desegregation In Education, 1957
#88
at 10:18 am
Bad email typing last time!
The Little Rock Nine: A Force For Desegregation In Education, 1957
#88
at 10:21 am
57 taken
I’ll try 75
at 10:36 am
Dark Lady of the Sonnets – # 110
at 10:40 am
Procession of the Great Ancestry, Procession of the Great Ancestry
#139
at 10:41 am
America – 134
at 10:45 am
My favorite is Spirit Catcher.
#88
at 10:50 am
The Blue Mountain’s Sun Drummer……168
at 11:01 am
Divine love
158
at 11:30 am
Procession of the Great Ancestry
67
at 11:31 am
62
at 12:45 pm
Pacifica
14
at 1:02 pm
I love “Buffalo People”, Wadada Leo Smith & Ed Blackwell……
My number will be 200 =D
at 1:20 pm
A few people have said Reflectativity, but not specified whether they like the 1974 or 2000 version. So let me say: Reflectativity, 74!
at 2:02 pm
The Flam; 45
at 3:22 pm
Spiritual Dimensions – # 171
at 6:52 am
The Blue Mountain’s Sun Drummer.
Number 3.
at 9:16 pm
The Blue Mountain’s Sun Drummer #13
at 10:37 pm
Spiritual Dimensions
113
at 9:00 am
CreaConstComp 124
at 10:04 am
Reflectivity
25
at 7:24 pm
Seeds of a forgotten flower
99
at 2:32 pm
Malik Al Shabazz And The People Of The Shahada – 199