The Red and Orange Poems

The Red and Orange Poems
Studio album by
Gary Bartz
Released1994
StudioPower Station
GenreJazz
LabelAtlantic Jazz
ProducerGary Bartz, Eulis Cathey
Gary Bartz chronology
Episode One: Children of Harlem
(1994) 		The Red and Orange Poems
(1994) 		Alto Memories
(1995)

The Red and Orange Poems is an album by the American saxophonist Gary Bartz, released in 1994.[1][2] It was considered a comeback album.[3] Bartz supported the album with a North American tour.[4] The album peaked at No. 25 on Billboard's Traditional Jazz Albums chart.[5]

Production

The arrangements were by Bartz, who had originally asked Benny Golson to do them.[6] Mulgrew Miller played piano on the album.[7] Eddie Henderson and John Clark contributed on horns.[8] The liner notes were written by Stanley Crouch.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[10]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[11]
Los Angeles Daily News[12]
MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide[13]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings[8]

Entertainment Weekly wrote that "the limber and witty alto sax legend Gary Bartz serves up solos that sing and speak."[11] The Atlantic determined that the album finds Bartz's "rich and bluesy alto gaining luster against a two-piece brass section, while the program of standards, original ballads, and a touch of soca is quietly probing."[14]

The Washington Post opined that "Bartz not only brings a fat, creamy tone and an ingenious harmonic grasp to the saxophone but also a maturity that enables him to say something with his technique."[15] The Los Angeles Daily News concluded that "Bartz takes time to breathe, and yet he plays shatteringly well when he wants to be more raucous."[12] Stereo Review deemed The Red and Orange Poems "an album of characteristic diversity that may well be his best to date."[16]

AllMusic stated that "Bartz is in excellent form."[9]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."By Myself" 
2."Nusia's Poem" 
3."I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life" 
4."J Seas" 
5."Relentless" 
6."Along the Twelve Tone Row" 
7."Soulmate" 
8."But Not for Me" 

References

  1. ^ a b "Gary Bartz Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Watrous, Peter (21 Jan 1995). "In Performance". The New York Times. p. A18.
  3. ^ "Profile of Jazz Saxophonist Gary Bartz". NPR. Mar 22, 1995.
  4. ^ Nelson, Nels (14 Apr 1995). "Gary Bartz". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 44.
  5. ^ "Gary Bartz". Billboard.
  6. ^ Haga, Evan. "Bright Moments with Gary Bartz". JazzTimes.
  7. ^ Blangger, Tim (5 Feb 1995). "Bartz's appearance, coincidently, comes at a time...". The Morning Call. p. F1.
  8. ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books Ltd. 2000. p. 102.
  9. ^ a b "Gary Bartz Red & Orange Poems". AllMusic.
  10. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 453.
  11. ^ a b "The Red and Orange Poems". Entertainment Weekly.
  12. ^ a b "Jazz". Los Angeles Daily News. 31 Mar 1995. p. L27.
  13. ^ MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Schirmer Trade Books. 1998. p. 73.
  14. ^ Blumenthal, Bob (February 1, 1995). "Resurgent Saxes Make the Scene". The Atlantic.
  15. ^ Himes, Geoffrey (1 Mar 1995). "Return of the Prodigal Saxophonist". The Washington Post. p. B7.
  16. ^ Albertson, Chris (Jul 1995). "The Red and Orange Poems by Gary Bartz". Stereo Review. Vol. 60, no. 7. p. 85.