Released 2011 Studio Station WUCB, Chicago Producer Chuck Nessa Artist Roscoe Mitchell Label Nessa Records | Recorded 1965 Length 52:40 Before There Was Sound
(2011) Sound
(1966) Release date 2011 Genre Jazz | |
 | ||
Similar Sound, Snurdy McGurdy and Her, L‑R‑G / The Maze / S II Examples, Old/Quartet, Early Combinations | ||
Before There Was Sound is an album by American jazz saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell recorded in 1965 but not issued until 2011 by Nessa Records. The album presents the earliest recordings available of the work of the AACM, taped shortly after the first meeting of the organization in May 1965 and approximately a year before Mitchell's debut album Sound. This quartet, with trumpeter Fred Berry, bassist Malachi Favors and drummer Alvin Fielder, had been working together for close to a year before they gathered at the instigation of Fielder in the studio of WUCB radio station. "Mr. Freddy" is dedicated to the trumpeter. "Jo Jar" is for Joseph Jarman.
Contents
Reception
The Down Beat review by Peter Margasak states "This is incredible, rigorously rehearsed and researched music made only less radical by what followed it—but in 1965 this would have blown minds."
Track listing
All compositions by Roscoe Mitchell except as indicated- "Mr. Freddy" - 6:26
- "Green" (Fred Berry) - 3:08
- "Outer Space" - 12:11
- "Carefree" - 6:28
- "Akhenaten" (Malachi Favors) - 7:43
- "And There was Peace" - 7:01
- "Jo Jar" - 5:07
- "Carefree #2" - 4:36