Attica Blues (album)

Reception

The Allmusic review by Steve Huey states: "Attica Blues is one of Shepp's most successful large-group projects, because his skillful handling of so many different styles of black music produces such tremendously groovy results". Stephen Davis of Rolling Stone said that it was "not just a masterpiece of protest: [...] it is more a politico/religious experience, an appeal to higher human consciousness to, for God's sake, help us out of this torment."

Track listing

All compositions by Archie Shepp except as indicated

1. "Attica Blues" (lyrics by Beaver Harris) – 4:49
2. "Invocation: Attica Blues" (Harris) – 0:18
3. "Steam, Part 1" – 5:08
4. "Invocation to Mr. Parker" (lyrics by Bart Gray) – 3:17
5. "Steam, Part 2" – 5:10
6. "Blues for Brother George Jackson" – 4:00
7. "Invocation: Ballad for a Child" (Harris) – 0:30
8. "Ballad for a Child" (lyrics by Harris) – 3:37
9. "Good-Bye Sweet Pops" (Cal Massey) – 4:23
10. "Quiet Dawn" (Massey) – 6:12

Recorded at A&R Recording, NYC, January 24–26, 1972 (Track timings slightly differ from one issue to another, due to merging tracks.)

Personnel

Archie Shepp: tenor saxophone (1, 6, 8, 10) and soprano saxophone (3, 5, 9)

Brass and reed section on tracks 1, 6, 9 and 10

Clifford Thornton: cornet

Roy Burrows, Charles McGhee, Michael Ridley: trumpet

Charles Greenlee, Charles Stephens, Kiane Zawadi: trombone

Hakim Jami: euphonium

Clarence White: alto saxophone

Roland Alexander, Billy Robinson: tenor saxophone

James Ware: baritone saxophone

String section on tracks 1, 3, 5, and 8—10

John Blake, Leroy Jenkins, Lakshinarayana Shankar: violin

Ronald Lipscomb, Calo Scott: cello

Marion Brown: alto saxophone (1, 6), bamboo flute (3), flute (4), percussion (3—5)

Walter Davis, Jr.: electric piano (1, 6), piano (6, 8—10)

Dave Burrell: electric piano (3, 5)

Cornell Dupree: guitar (1, 3, 5, 8)

Roland Wilson (1, 3, 5–6, 8), Gerald Jemmott (1): Fender bass

Jimmy Garrison: bass (3—5, 9, 10)

Beaver Harris (1, 3, 5–6, 8): drums

Ollie Anderson, Nene DeFense, Juma Sultan: percussion (1, 6, 10)

Vocals

Henry Hull (1, 8), Joe Lee Wilson (3, 5): vocals

William Kunstler (2, 7), Bartholomew Gray (4): narrator

Joshie Armstead, Albertine Robertson: backing vocals (1)

Featured exclusively on tracks 9 and 10, written by Cal Massey

Romulus Franceschini: conductor and co-arranger

Cal Massey: fluegelhorn (10)

Waheeda Massey: vocals (10)

Billy Higgins: drums