17 Musicians in Search of a Sound: Darfur

May 2025 17 Musicians in Search of a Sound: Darfur live Bill Dixon 17_musicians_darfur_cover.jpeg 2008 June 20, 2007 Angel Orensanz Center, New York City Jazz 56:38 AUM Fidelity Bill Dixon Bill Dixon Bill Dixon with Exploding Star Orchestra 2008 Tapestries for Small Orchestra 2009 17 Musicians in Search of a Sound: Darfur is a live album by American jazz trumpeter Bill Dixon. The project, a tour de force of orchestral composition, conduction and improvisational exploration, was specially commissioned by Arts for Art, recorded at the 2007 Vision Festival and released on AUM Fidelity.17 Musicians in Search of a Sound: Darfur https://web.archive.org/web/20150908110910/http://www.aumfidelity.com/aum046.html 2015-09-08 at AUM Fidelity Reception AllMusic 4 5https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000788781 Bill Dixon: 17 Musicians In Search Of A Sound: Darfur Nastos Michael G. AllMusic February 23, 2021 All About Jazz #1 5 5https://www.allaboutjazz.com/17-musicians-in-search-of-a-sound-darfur-bill-dixon-aum-fidelity-review-by-john-sharpe.php Bill Dixon: 17 Musicians In Search Of A Sound: Darfur Sharpe John August 8, 2008 All About Jazz April 19, 2021 All About Jazz #2 2.5 5https://www.allaboutjazz.com/17-musicians-in-search-of-a-sound-darfur-bill-dixon-aum-fidelity-review-by-mark-corroto.php Bill Dixon: 17 Musicians In Search Of A Sound: Darfur Corroto Mark August 26, 2008 All About Jazz April 19, 2021 All About Jazz #3 4.5 5https://www.allaboutjazz.com/17-musicians-in-search-of-a-sound-darfur-bill-dixon-aum-fidelity-review-by-nic-jones.php Bill Dixon: 17 Musicians In Search Of A Sound: Darfur Jones Nic June 17, 2008 All About Jazz April 19, 2021 Pitchfork 7.5 10https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12225-17-musicians-in-search-of-a-sound-darfur Bill Dixon: 17 Musicians In Search Of A Sound: Darfur Tangari Joe September 29, 2008 Pitchfork April 19, 2021 In his review for AllMusic, Michael G. Nastos stated: "this is not an angry or disgusted expressionistic music, but one that reflects the distant outcries of the people in Darfur who need help from the world community... This is a project of austere emotion, clever counterpoint, and searing reality in dedication to a condition in the so-called civilized world that should never, ever be." Writing for All About Jazz, John Sharpe remarked: "Trumpeter Bill Dixon works with an orchestral conception, even when playing solo, so it is fascinating to hear what happens when he has 17 musicians at his disposal... it is hard to think who else could deploy such forces to such deft effect, creating a towering work in a class of its own." In a separate review for All About Jazz, Mark Corroto wrote: "Dixon was given talent but little time for rehearsal and changes. This makes for a part composed, part improvised series of passages. There's the feeling that Dixon is guiding this who's who of creative players, but at other times they are free to fill in as their own muse dictates. The music is, nonetheless, up to Dixon's standards. Players create moods for his vast open landscape of a vision, crafting solos in between caverns of sound... 17 Musicians In Search Of A Sound has the feel of a coarse-sewn rug, made from very fine materials. Given time and perhaps a long tour... this music might become tighter and more easily consumable. But, then again, it wouldn't be Bill Dixon music." Nic Jones, in another All About Jazz review, stated: "It's clear, on something like In Search Of A Sound, that instrumental color must have been one of Dixon's abiding concerns. He summons up static blocks of sound comprised y of individual voices in the service of some grim, foreboding end that remains unrealized..." Jones concludes by calling the album "a program of music designed not for comfort listening but for challenging and, perhaps, raging against mortality and the horrors and restrictions it imposes." Joe Tangari, writing for Pitchfork, commented: "From a listener's standpoint, the project's tonal and textural variety and relatively simple organization makes it more approachable than a great deal of free music for newcomers to the genre, though it still takes a willingness to abandon usual structures. In fact, for its flow from violence to calm and back, it bears as much similarity to modern chamber works like Olivier Messiaen's 'Quartet for the End of Time' as it does to Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor and other free jazz luminaries. Whatever the associates, though, Dixon has created an outstanding work of modern jazz and political commentary." Track listing All compositions by Bill Dixon "Prelude" - 3:07 "Intrados" - 3:58 "In Search of a Sound" - 4:15 "Contour One" - 1:43 "Contour Two" - 0:10 "Scattering of the Following" - 7:00 "Darfur" - 5:27 "Contour Three" - 3:14 "Sinopia" - 23:37 "Pentimento I" - 0:43 "Pentimento II" - 0:17 "Pentimento III" - 0:22 "Pentimento IV" - 2:41 Personnel Bill Dixon - trumpet Graham Haynes, Stephen Haynes, Taylor Ho Bynum - cornet, flugelhorn Dick Griffin, Steve Swell - trombone Joseph Daley - tuba Karen Borca - bassoon Will Connell - bass clarinet Michel Cote - contrabass clarinet Andrew Raffo Dewar - soprano sax John Hagen - tenor sax, baritone sax J.D. Parran - bass sax, bamboo flute Andrew Lafkas - bass Glynis Loman - cello Jackson Krall - drums, percussion Warren Smith - vibraphone, tympani, drums References Category:2008 live albums Category:Bill Dixon live albums Category:AUM Fidelity live albums Category:Albums recorded at the Vision Festival