Heavy Spirits Explained

Heavy Spirits
Type:	studio
Artist:	Oliver Lake
Cover:	Heavy_Spirits_cover.jpeg
Released:	1975
Recorded:	January 31 & February 3, 1975
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	40:06
Label:	Arista Freedom
Producer:	Michael Cuscuna
Chronology:	Oliver Lake
Prev Title:	Passin' Thru
Prev Year:	1974
Next Title:	Holding Together
Next Year:	1976

Heavy Spirits is an album by American jazz saxophonist Oliver Lake, which was recorded in 1975 and released on the Arista Freedom label. The album features Lake playing in different settings: three quintet tracks with Olu Dara on trumpet, Donald Smith on piano, Stafford James on bass, and Victor Lewis on drums, three more tracks with Lake backed by three violinists, a trio piece with trombonist Joseph Bowie and drummer Charles "Bobo" Shaw, and a solo sax piece.

Reception

In his review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow states "This will be one of the least accessible of altoist Oliver Lake's recordings for most people but repeated listenings reveal a great deal of beauty."

The Penguin Guide to Jazz says "Heavy Spirits seems, at this distance, like a relic of an exciting period in the American avant-garde.. Hit and miss, but untempered and often intriguing."^[1]

Track listing

All compositions by Oliver Lake except as indicated

1. "While Pushing Down Turn" – 11:50
2. "Owshet" – 5:43
3. "Heavy Spirits" – 2:55
4. "Movements Equals Creation" – 1:33
5. "Altoviolin" – 2:32
6. "Intensity" – 2:23
7. "Lonely Blacks" (Julius Hemphill) – 3:45
8. "Rocket" – 9:25

• Recorded at C.I. Recording Studio, New York City on January 31, 1975 (tracks 1-3, 8) and Music Designer Studios, Boston on February 3, 1975 (track 4-7)

Personnel

• Oliver Lake - alto sax
• Olu Dara – trumpet on 1, 2, 3
• Donald Smith - piano on 1, 2, 3
• Stafford James – bass on 1, 2, 3
• Victor Lewis - drums on 1, 2, 3
• Al Philemon Jones – violin on 4, 5, 6
• Steve Peisch – violin on 4, 5, 6
• C. Panton – violin on 4, 5, 6
• Joseph Bowie - trombone on 8
• Charles "Bobo" Shaw – drums on 8

Notes and References

1. Book: Cook, Richard. Richard Cook (journalist). Brian Morton . Brian Morton (Scottish writer) . The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. 6th. The Penguin Guide to Jazz. 2002. Penguin. London. 0140515216. 875.