The First Full Turn is a live album by the free improvisation group known as RoTToR, featuring trombonist Paul Rutherford, vocalist Julie Tippett, pianist Keith Tippett, and bassist Paul Rogers. The bulk of the album, a long quartet track, was recorded on April 30, 1998, at Theatre P Scarron in Le Mans, France. A remaining solo trombone track was recorded on February 6, 1998, at St Giles Cripplegate in London. The album was released by Emanem Records later that year.[1][2][3][4]

The First Full Turn
Live album by
RoTToR
Released1998
RecordedFebruary 6, 1998; April 30, 1998
VenueSt Giles Cripplegate, London; Theatre P Scarron, Le Mans
GenreFree jazz
Length1:07:26
LabelEmanem
4026
ProducerMartin Davidson
Paul Rutherford chronology
Sequences 72 & 73
(1997)
The First Full Turn
(1998)
Trombolenium
(2002)

The group was originally a trio named RoToR, with the capital letters corresponding to the first letter of each player's last name. When Julie Tippett joined, the name was changed to RoTToR.[5]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz    [6]

In a review for AllMusic, François Couture called the recording "beautiful," and praised "the chemistry between the Tippetts."[1]

Regarding the long quartet track, Robert Spencer of All About Jazz commented: "It is a tremendous, fascinating performance from beginning to end, showing off not only Rutherford's tremendous coloristic and improvisational ability, but also the considerable skills of Julie Tippett." Concerning the solo track, he remarked: "Rutherford has a huge range of expression on his trombone: he can match Roswell Rudd's smears and wails just as easily as J. J. Johnson's smooth precision. By the nature of the case he tends more toward the former than the latter, but he has such a range of expression that he never fails to hold interest."[7]

Writing for Metropolis, Richard Cochrane stated: "nothing hangs around for long in this group; blink and, as ever, it's gone... When the sparks fly, it's exciting music indeed."[8]

Track listing

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  1. "The First Full Turn" (Julie Tippett, Keith Tippett, Paul Rogers, Paul Rutherford) – 53:09
  2. "Another Solo Turn" (Paul Rutherford) – 12:27

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Couture, François. "RoTToR: The First Full Turn". AllMusic. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "RoTToR - The First Full Turn". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Emanem CD discography (4001 to 4099)". JazzLists. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "RoTToR / The First Full Turn". Emanem Records. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Jenkins, Todd S. (2004). "RoTToR". Free Jazz and Free Improvisation: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. Greenwood. p. 290 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin Books. p. 1254.
  7. ^ Spencer, Robert (December 1, 1998). "Paul Rutherford/Julie Tippett / Keith Tippett / Paul Rogers: Rottor: The First Full Turn". All About Jazz. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  8. ^ Cochrane, Richard. "paul rutherford / julie tippett / keith tippett / paul rogers / rottor / the first full turn". Metropolis. Retrieved February 20, 2023.