In his review for AllMusic, Thom Jurek states, "Bells for the South Side is indeed massive, but its depth, breadth, and inspired performances border on the profound."[2]
The Down Beat review by Bradley Bambarger says, "Pitched between avant-garde jazz and modernist chamber music, the sound poems of Bells for the South Side challenge the ear, whether they are keening or swirling, spare or textured. But the music also has an undeniable grandeur, the feel almost ritualistic."[3]
The Point of Departure review by Michael Rosenstein states, "This release is a tour de force in Mitchell’s impressive catalog and the result is a tribute to his singular vision and sage choice in collaborators."[4]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Roscoe Mitchell except where noted.
Disc one
No.
Title
Writer(s)
Length
1.
"Spatial Aspects of the Sound"
12:14
2.
"Panoply"
7:36
3.
"Prelude to a Rose"
12:44
4.
"Dancing in the Canyon"
Roscoe Mitchell
Craig Taborn
Kikanju Baku
10:23
5.
"EP 7849"
8:13
6.
"Bells for the South Side"
12:26
Disc two
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Prelude to the Card Game, Cards for Drums, and the Final Hand"
