''Afrika Rising'' is an album by jazz flautist
Nicole Mitchell with her group Black Earth Ensemble. It was released in 2002 by Dreamtime, Mitchell's own label.
Reception
The ''
Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
'' review by David Dacks says "''Afrika Rising'' builds on Mitchell's successful debut, ''Vision Quest'', a year ago and is forward-thinking jazz that swings like crazy."
[Dacks, David]
''Afrika Rising'' review
at ''Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
'' ''
JazzTimes
''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store.
Coverage
After a decade of growth ...
'' wrote: "The music is deeply informed by African rhythm and counterpoint as well as by big-band jazz of both the classic and eccentric (à la
Sun Ra
Le Sony'r Ra (born Herman Poole Blount, May 22, 1914 – May 30, 1993), better known as Sun Ra, was an American jazz composer, bandleader, piano and synthesizer player, and poet known for his experimental music, "cosmic" philosophy, prolific out ...
) varieties. Mitchell uses many voices masterfully, none more so than her own".
Track listing
All compositions by Nicole Mitchell except where noted.
# "Afrika Rising Mvmt I: The Ancient Power Awakens" – 8:34
# "Afrika Rising Mvmt II: Metemorphosis" – 7:33
# "Afrika Rising Mvmt III: Intergalactic Healing" – 5:39
# "Peaceful Village Town" – 5:17
# "Emerging Light" – 0:53
# "Umoja (intro)" – 1:01
# "Umoja" – 5:42
# "Bluerise" – 10:49
# "Goldmind" (melody from "
Wade in the Water
"Wade in the Water" (Roud 5439) is an African American jubilee song, a spiritual—in reference to a genre of music "created and first sung by African Americans in slavery." The lyrics to "Wade in the Water" were first co-published in 1901 in ...
", traditional) – 2:07
# "Wheatgrass" – 7:57
# "Toward Vision Quest" – 3:21
Personnel
*
Nicole Mitchell – flute,
piccolo
The piccolo ( ; Italian for 'small') is a half-size flute and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. Sometimes referred to as a "baby flute" the modern piccolo has similar fingerings as the standard transverse flute, but the so ...
, vocals
* David Boykin – saxophone, clarinet, vocals
* Tony Herrera – trombone, shells, vocals
* Steve Berry – trombone
* Savoir Faire – violin, vocals
* Edith Yokley – violin
*
Tomeka Reid
Tomeka Reid (born 1977) is an American composer, improviser, cellist, curator, and teacher.
Reid has performed and recorded with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Nicole Mitchell, Anthony Braxton, the AACM Great Black Music Ensemble, Mike Reed's ...
– cello
* Miles Tate III – piano
* Jim Baker – piano
* Wanda Bishop – piano, vocals
* Darius Savage – double bass
*
Josh Abrams – bass, vocals
*
Hamid Drake
Hamid Drake (born August 3, 1955) is an American jazz drummer and percussionist.
By the close of the 1990s, Hamid Drake was widely regarded as one of the best percussionists in jazz and improvised music. Incorporating Afro-Cuban, Indian, and Afr ...
– drums
* Isaiah Spencer – drums
* Arveeayl Ra – drums, vocals
* Jovia Armstrong – percussion
* Coco Elysses – percussion
References
{{Authority control
2002 albums
Nicole Mitchell (musician) albums