Handscapes is a double live album by The Piano Choir featuring Stanley Cowell, Nat Jones, Hugh Lawson, Webster Lewis, Harold Mabern, Danny Mixon, and Sonelius Smith recorded in 1972 and first released on the Strata-East label.[1]

Handscapes
Live album by
The Piano Choir
Released1973
RecordedJune 18, 1972 and October 28, 1972 at The Public Theater, NYC
GenreJazz
LabelStrata-East SES-19730
ProducerGeri Hamlin and The Piano Choir
Stanley Cowell chronology
Brilliant Circles
(1969)
Handscapes
(1973)
Illusion Suite
(1973)
The Piano Choir chronology
Handscapes
(1973)
Handscapes 2
(1975)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]

At the time of release Ebony reviewer Phyl Garland said "One needn't be a "piano freak" to appreciate a truly new recording. First of all imagine seven gifted and talented pianists sitting down to seven grand pianos (with electric piano, organ, harpsichord, a few tambourines for spice) and proceeding to tear up these instruments – musically, that is. ...the torrent of sound springing from their 70 fingers is so powerful and majestic as to be unlike anything one has ever heard."[3] In his review for AllMusic, Michael G. Nastos simply states "Brilliant".[2]

Track listing

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Side A:

  1. "Jaboobie's March" (Hugh Lawson) – 13:40
  2. "Straight, No Chaser" (Thelonious Monk) – 6:00
  3. "Precious Lord" (Thomas A. Dorsey) – 4:50

Side B:

  1. "Sanctum Saintorium" (Sonelius Smith) – 13:40
  2. "Nation Time" (Webster Lewis) – 5:40
  3. "Effi" (Stanley Cowell) – 6:50

Side C:

  1. "Man Extensions" (Danny Mixon) – 31:25

Side D:

  1. "The Almoravids" (Joe Chambers) – 15:40
  2. "Killers" (Stanley Cowell) – 7:30

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Stanley Cowell discography accessed January 20, 2015
  2. ^ a b Nastos, Michael G.. Handscapes – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  3. ^ Garland, P., Ebony magazine review, June 1973