Jazz
Archie Shepp Liner Notes
Billy Banks Production Manager
Cis Pope Liner Notes
David Weiss Trumpet
Deena Adler Liner Notes, Producer, Band Photo
Eddie Greene Composer
Frank Kleinschmidt Producer
Frank Loesser Composer
George Burton Piano
James Carter Sax (Tenor), Sax (Bass)
Jeff "Tain" Watts Drums
Jimmy McHugh Composer
John Abbott Cover Photo
Lee Smith Bass
Odean Pope Sax (Tenor), Composer, Liner Notes
Richard Rosenfeld Road Manager, Title
Rob Macomber Mastering, Recording, Mixing
Terell Stafford Trumpet
Ulf Ryberg Graphic Design
Walter Blanding Sax (Tenor)
Zach Berkman Assistant Engineer
As one of the leaders in post-John Coltrane jazz expressionism, saxophonist Odean Pope has been at the forefront while also offering challenging music with different options. In size and shapes, brilliant personnel choices, and compatible sounds conceived in unique ways -- all have been Pope's calling card since his estimable time spent with Max Roach's combos. Teamed with fellow saxophonists James Carter and Walter Blanding alongside trumpeters Terrel Stafford and David Weiss, Pope has a formidable band, yet harnesses the energy of these firebrands. Pope takes the bulk of solos and introductions, occasionally letting his bandmates cut loose, but overall their roar is muted, their shout outs constrained to only slightly smoldering burning. As rich as the horns are, it is Pope's vision that brings the music to full fruition, especially from an angular, harmonic standpoint. Check out the modal waltz "Little Miss Lady," a rambling "To the Roach," where the horns are everywhere at once in a manner similar to fellow Philadelphian Coltrane's "Giant Steps," or the Spanish-flavored "Phrygian Love Theme" in parallel to 'Trane's "Ole." Standing tall in a blues vein, "You & Me" also reflects another influential giant, Charles Mingus, in its flexible, elastic rhythms that shift at will. Through it all, Pope's tart sax is clearly identifiable from start to finish, for as impressive a project as he has produced in a challenged, fruitful career in progressive jazz. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi
Odean Pope
Active Decades: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Oct 24, 1938 in Ninety Six, SC
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Modern Creative, Post-Bop, Contemporary Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz
A fiery and often intense tenor saxophonist, Odean Pope was an important member of Max Roach's quartet beginning in 1979. Pope grew up in Philadelphia, took some important musical lessons from Ray Bryant, and had short associations with organist Jimmy McGriff and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He first began teaming up with Roach in the late '60s, although it would be another decade before he became a regular part of his group. Pope led Catalyst, a band that made four records in the '70s, and he put together the Saxophone Choir in 1977. Falling into the post-bop genre, the latter band consisted of eight saxophones and a rhythm section, and became a part-time unit. But Odean Pope, who recorded consistently stimulating dates as a leader for Moers and Soul Note, is best known for his many appearances and recordings with Roach.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
