Soaring (album) explained

Soaring
Type:	Studio album
Artist:	Don Ellis
Cover:	Soaring (album).jpg
Released:	1973
Recorded:	1973
Genre:	Jazz, jazz fusion, orchestral jazz
Length:	42:12
Label:	MPS/BASF MB 25123
Producer:	Don Ellis
Chronology:	Don Ellis
Prev Title:	Connection
Prev Year:	1972
Next Title:	Haiku
Next Year:	1973

Soaring is an album by trumpeter Don Ellis recorded in 1973 and released on the MPS label.^[1] The album features Hank Levy's composition which provided the title for, and was featured in, the 2014 film Whiplash.^[2]

Reception

Scott Yanow of AllMusic called it an "underrated set ...well worth searching for". On Jazz History Online, Michael Verity observed "By 1973, when he recorded Soaring, a 10-cut musical haiku, all of his interests were converging into a style that was bold, intensely rhythmic and perfectly calibrated sound for the big screen. (It should be no surprise he was scoring The French Connection at same time he was working on this project)."^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Don Ellis except as indicated

1. "Whiplash" (Hank Levy) – 4:25
2. "Sladka Pitka" (Milcho Leviev) – 6:40
3. "The Devil Made Me Write This Piece" – 6:00
4. "Go Back Home" (Sam Falzone) – 3:15
5. "Invincible" – 6:43
6. "Image of Maria" – 3:03
7. "Sidonie" (Alexej Fried) – 6:37
8. "Nicole" – 5:29

Personnel

• Don Ellis – trumpet, flugelhorn, drums, arranger
  • Fred Selden – alto saxophone, flute, soprano saxophone, piccolo, alto flute Vince Denham – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, piccolo
• Sam Falzone – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute, arranger
• Gary Herbig – baritone saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, flute, oboe
• Jack Caudill, Bruce Mackay, Gil Rathel – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Sidney Muldrow – French horn
• Mike Jamieson – trombone
• Ken Sawhill – bass trombone
• Doug Bixby – tuba
• Jay Graydon – guitar, bag
• Milcho Leviev – piano, electric piano, organ, clavinet, arranger
• Dave McDaniel – bass
• Ralph Humphrey – drums
• Ron Dunn – drums, percussion
• Lee Pastora – congas
• Earle Corry, Joel Quivey – electric violin
• Renita Koven – electric viola
• Pat Kudzia – electric cello
• Alexej Fried, Hank Levy – arranger

Notes and References

1. http://donellismusic.com/ellis-recordings/soaring/ Don Ellis discography
2. Tucker, R., How Miles Teller learned to fake drum like a pro in ‘Whiplash’, New York Post, October 4, 2014
3. Verity, M., Jazz History Online: Don Ellis: Soaring, accessed March 5, 2015