Blu Blu Blu Explained

Blu Blu Blu
Type:	Album
Artist:	Muhal Richard Abrams
Cover:	Blu Blu Blu.jpg
Released:	1991
Recorded:	9–10 November 1990
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	77:05
Label:	Black Saint
Producer:	Muhal Richard Abrams
Prev Title:	The Hearinga Suite
Prev Year:	1989
Next Title:	Family Talk
Next Year:	1992

Blu Blu Blu is an album by Muhal Richard Abrams released on the Italian Black Saint label in 1991 and features performances of eight of Abrams compositions by a big band. Abrams dedicated the title track on the album to Muddy Waters.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow calls the album "One of pianist/composer Muhal Richard Abrams' strongest big-band dates... The music occasionally glances back at the past but mostly looks forward in its own unique way. Recommended".^[1] The music writer Tom Moon includes Blu Blu Blu in his book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die, commenting that the album succeeds in creating "unpredictable music distinguished by a bustling big-city exuberance."^[2] The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album 4 stars calling it "Abram's best album for some time... this is among one of the most important contemporary big band records".^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Muhal Richard Abrams

1. "Plus Equal Minus Balance" - 11:13
2. "Cycles Five" - 7:55
3. "Bloodline" - 15:24
4. "Septone" - 6:32
5. "Blu Blu Blu" - 9:17
6. "Petsrof" - 6:29
7. "One for the Whistler" - 6:51
8. "Stretch Time" - 13:24

• Recorded on 9 & 10 November 1990 at RPM Sound Studios, Inc., New York

Personnel

• Jack Walrath: trumpet
• Alfred Patterson: trombone
• John Purcell: alto saxophone, flute, clarinet
• Robert De Bellis: alto saxophone, flute, bass clarinet
• Eugene Ghee: tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet
• Patience Higgins: clarinet, flute, baritone saxophone
• Mark Taylor: french horn (track 3)
• Joe Daley: tuba
• Brad Jones: bass
• Lindsey Horner: bass (tracks 2, 4 & 6)
• David Fiuczynski: guitar
• Warren Smith: vibraphone, timpani
• Joel Brandon: whistling
• Thurman Barker: drums
• Muhal Richard Abrams: piano, synthesizer, conductor

Notes and References

1. Yanow, S. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r160734|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic Review] accessed 31 March 2009
2. Web site: Blu Blu Blu: Effortless, Unpredictable Free Jazz . 31 March 2012 .
3. Book: Cook, Richard. Richard Cook (journalist). Brian Morton. Brian Morton (Scottish writer). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. 1992. 8th. The Penguin Guide to Jazz. 2006. Penguin. London. 978-0-141-02327-4. 6. registration.