Spirit Catcher (album)

Spirit Catcher
Studio album by
Wadada Leo Smith
Released 1979
Recorded May 21, 1979
Studio Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
Genre Jazz
Length 38:34 (LP)
49:47 (CD)
Label Nessa
Producer Chuck Nessa
Wadada Leo Smith chronology
Budding of a Rose
(1978) 		Spirit Catcher
(1979) 		Touch the Earth
(1980)

Spirit Catcher is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith which was recorded in 1979 and released on Nessa Records.

Background

Smith leads the New Dalta Akhri, a quintet with Dwight Andrews, Bobby Naughton, Wes Brown and Pheeroan akLaff, in two original compositions: "Images" and "Spirit Catcher". In addition, Smith prepared a very unusual piece for muted trumpet and three harps: "The Burning of Stones", a composition dedicated to Anthony Braxton with elements of two traditions involving harp-like instruments, the West African kora and the Japanese koto. The 2009 CD reissue adds an alternate version of this piece.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide

In his review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow states "This is thought-provoking music that grows in interest with each listen." The All About Jazz review by Clifford Allen says "Recorded crisply by Rudy Van Gelder (unlike the somewhat murky Kabell LPs), Spirit Catcher presents Smith's earlier music with clarity and warmth."

Track listing

All compositions by Wadada Leo Smith
  1. "Images" - 19:09
  2. "The Burning of Stones" - 9:42
  3. "Spirit Catcher" - 9:43

Bonus track on CD

  1. "The Burning of Stones" first version - 11:13

Personnel