''Communications Network'' is a live album by multi-instrumentalist and composer
Clifford Thornton. The two-part composition titled "Communications Network" was recorded on January 22, 1972, at ABC Stage City in New York City, and features Thornton on electric piano and cornet, along with
Lakshinarayana Shankar on violin,
Sirone on bass, and
Jerome Cooper
Jerome Douglas Cooper (December 14, 1946 – May 6, 2015) was an American free jazz musician. In addition to trap drums, Cooper played balafon, chirimia and various electronic instruments, and referred to himself as a "multi-dimensional drummer," ...
on percussion. The remaining piece, "Festivals And Funerals," based on
Jayne Cortez's poem of the same name, was recorded on April 17, 1972, at the Festival of African American Music at
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut. Founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the auspices of the Methodist Epis ...
, Middletown, Connecticut, and features Thornton on cornet, Cortez as reciter,
Nathan Davis on soprano saxophone,
Jay Hoggard on vibraphone,
Andy González on bass,
Jerry González
Jerry González (June 5, 1949 – October 1, 2018) was an American bandleader, trumpeter
The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the hig ...
and Vincent George on congas and percussion, and Nicky Marrero on timbales and percussion. The album was released by Third World Records later in 1972.
Reception
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
awarded the album 3 stars. Reviewer Michael G. Nastos called it "potent."
In a review for ''The Hum'', Bradford Bailey called the album "an incredible display of the diverse range in
hornton'sabilities. The first side is a rising tide of sound and energy – Free-Jazz with the brakes removed, while the second is more delicate and restrained, laced with poetry by Jayne Cortez... It's a lovely album that I can't recommend enough."
Writing for ''
Black World/Negro Digest'', Ron Welburn praised the album's "musical inventiveness" but criticized its sound quality. He also stated that Shankar "must be heard for his vision-inspired playing," and expressed hope that Thornton would work with a large orchestra at some point.
Track listing
All compositions by Clifford Thornton.
# "Communications Network Part 1" – 11:46
# "Communications Network Part 2" – 5:29
# "Festivals And Funerals" (poem by Jayne Cortez) – 24:45
Personnel
*
Clifford Thornton – electric piano (tracks 1 and 2), cornet (all tracks)
*
Lakshinarayana Shankar – violin (tracks 1 and 2)
*
Sirone – bass (tracks 1 and 2)
*
Jerome Cooper
Jerome Douglas Cooper (December 14, 1946 – May 6, 2015) was an American free jazz musician. In addition to trap drums, Cooper played balafon, chirimia and various electronic instruments, and referred to himself as a "multi-dimensional drummer," ...
– percussion (tracks 1 and 2)
*
Jayne Cortez – voice (track 3)
*
Nathan Davis – soprano saxophone (track 3)
*
Jay Hoggard – vibraphone (track 3)
*
Andy González – bass (track 3)
*
Jerry González
Jerry González (June 5, 1949 – October 1, 2018) was an American bandleader, trumpeter
The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the hig ...
– congas, percussion (track 3)
* Vincent George – congas, percussion (track 3)
* Nicky Marrero – timbales, percussion (track 3)
References
{{Reflist
1972 live albums
Clifford Thornton live albums