''Your Prayer'' is the second album by saxophonist Frank Wright. It was recorded in May 1967 in New York City and was released by

ESP-Disk ESP-Disk is a New York-based record company and label founded in 1963 by lawyer Bernard Stollman. History Though it originally existed to release Esperanto-based music, beginning with its second release (Albert Ayler's ''Spiritual Unity''), ESP b ...

later that year. On the album, Wright is joined by saxophonist Arthur Jones, trumpeter

Jacques Coursil Jacques Coursil (March 31, 1938 – June 26, 2020) was a composer, jazz trumpeter, scholar, and professor of literature, linguistics, and philosophy. Early life Coursil was born in Paris, France, of Martinican parents. At age nine, he began studyi ...

, bassist Steve Tintweiss, and drummer

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist. Nicknamed "The Greatest", he is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century, a ...

. The tracks were reissued in 2005 on the Frank Wright compilation ''

The Complete ESP-Disk Recordings ''The Complete ESP-Disk Recordings'' is a two-CD compilation album by saxophonist Frank Wright. Issued by ESP-Disk in 2005, it contains two studio albums released by the label during the 1960s: ''Frank Wright Trio'', recorded in 1965 and issued in ...

''.

Reception

In a review for

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 ...

, Scott Yanow wrote: "For his second and final ESP date as a leader, avant-garde tenor saxophonist Frank Wright teams up with four little-known players... for passionate explorations of four of his originals plus Jones' 'The Lady.' Rather intense at times, these emotional performances... still sound groundbreaking three decades later. One of Frank Wright's finest recordings." Writing for

Stereogum ''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine. ''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several award ...

, Michael Nelson commented: "The other horns treat the melodies like fanfares, announcing Wright before he steps up for a fierce solo, but on pieces like 'No End' and particularly the nearly 13-minute 'Fire of Spirits,' everyone gets to have their say. Tintweiss's extended bass solo is actually a highlight of the disc, though the real secret weapon is Coursil's trumpet. Ali's drumming is frantic and ferocious throughout, wiping out the landscape like a forest fire." In a review for

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

, Clifford Allen stated: "''Your Prayer'' finds Wright refining the bag his solos come from, yet maintaining a firm hold on the ecstatic free-blues shout that makes up most of his solo language... ''Your Prayer'' is a rather lengthy slab of high-energy grit, but its unified forward and upward motion make for a firmly rooted sonic liberation."

Track listing

Track 1 by Arthur Jones. Tracks 2-5 by Frank Wright. # "The Lady" – 9:04 # "Train Stop" – 7:32 # "No End" – 6:49 # "Fire of Spirits" – 12:31 # "Your Prayer" – 15:42

Personnel

* Frank Wright – tenor saxophone * Arthur Jones – alto saxophone *

– trumpet * Steve Tintweiss – bass *

– drums

References

{{Reflist 1967 albums Frank Wright (jazz musician) albums ESP-Disk albums