The Red and Orange Poems

The Red and Orange Poems is an album by the American saxophonist Gary Bartz, released in 1994.[1][2] It was considered a comeback album.[3] Bartz supported the album with a North American tour.[4] The album peaked at No. 25 on Billboard's Traditional Jazz Albums chart.[5]

The Red and Orange Poems
Studio album by
Released1994
StudioPower Station
GenreJazz
LabelAtlantic Jazz
ProducerGary Bartz, Eulis Cathey
Gary Bartz chronology
Episode One: Children of Harlem
(1994)
The Red and Orange Poems
(1994)
Alto Memories
(1995)

Production

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The arrangements were by Bartz, who had originally asked Benny Golson to do them.[6] Mulgrew Miller played piano on the album.[7] Eddie Henderson and John Clark contributed on horns.[8] The liner notes were written by Stanley Crouch.[1]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [10]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[11]
Los Angeles Daily News    [12]
MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide     [13]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings    [8]

Entertainment Weekly wrote that "the limber and witty alto sax legend Gary Bartz serves up solos that sing and speak."[11] The Atlantic determined that the album finds Bartz's "rich and bluesy alto gaining luster against a two-piece brass section, while the program of standards, original ballads, and a touch of soca is quietly probing."[14]

The Washington Post opined that "Bartz not only brings a fat, creamy tone and an ingenious harmonic grasp to the saxophone but also a maturity that enables him to say something with his technique."[15] The Los Angeles Daily News concluded that "Bartz takes time to breathe, and yet he plays shatteringly well when he wants to be more raucous."[12] Stereo Review deemed The Red and Orange Poems "an album of characteristic diversity that may well be his best to date."[16]

AllMusic stated that "Bartz is in excellent form."[9]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."By Myself" 
2."Nusia's Poem" 
3."I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life" 
4."J Seas" 
5."Relentless" 
6."Along the Twelve Tone Row" 
7."Soulmate" 
8."But Not for Me" 

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gary Bartz Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  2. ^ Watrous, Peter (21 Jan 1995). "In Performance". The New York Times. p. A18.
  3. ^ "Profile of Jazz Saxophonist Gary Bartz". NPR. Mar 22, 1995.
  4. ^ Nelson, Nels (14 Apr 1995). "Gary Bartz". Features Yo!. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 44.
  5. ^ "Gary Bartz". Billboard.
  6. ^ Haga, Evan. "Bright Moments with Gary Bartz". JazzTimes.
  7. ^ Blangger, Tim (5 Feb 1995). "Bartz's appearance, coincidently, comes at a time...". The Morning Call. p. F1.
  8. ^ a b The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin Books Ltd. 2000. p. 102.
  9. ^ a b "Gary Bartz Red & Orange Poems". AllMusic.
  10. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 453.
  11. ^ a b "The Red and Orange Poems". Entertainment Weekly.
  12. ^ a b "Jazz". Los Angeles Daily News. 31 Mar 1995. p. L27.
  13. ^ MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Schirmer Trade Books. 1998. p. 73.
  14. ^ Blumenthal, Bob (February 1, 1995). "Resurgent Saxes Make the Scene". The Atlantic.
  15. ^ Himes, Geoffrey (1 Mar 1995). "Return of the Prodigal Saxophonist". The Washington Post. p. B7.
  16. ^ Albertson, Chris (Jul 1995). "The Red and Orange Poems by Gary Bartz". Stereo Review. Vol. 60, no. 7. p. 85.