Birdhouse is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson, released in 1996 on Okka Disk.
| Birdhouse | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1996 | |||
| Recorded | February 20, 1995 (track 4 April 7, 1994) | |||
| Studio | Sparrow Sound Design, Chicago | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 62:59 | |||
| Label | Okka Disk | |||
| Producer | Fred Anderson , Bruno Johnson | |||
| Fred Anderson chronology | ||||
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The title refers to Anderson's Chicago club that closed in 1978. Three pieces are played by a quartet with pianist Jim Baker and long-time collaborators bassist Harrison Bankhead and drummer Hamid Drake. "Like Sonny" is dedicated to saxophonist Sonny Stitt.[1] The final song, "Waiting for M.C.", is an Anderson-Drake duo from the sessions for the album Destiny (1994) by pianist Marilyn Crispell
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [3] |
In her review for AllMusic, Joslyn Layne stated: "Birdhouse finds tenor sax great Fred Anderson leading his quartet through four originals that cover a spectrum of moods."[2]
The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings wrote: "Birdhouse never quite fires, perhaps because the pianist is so restrictive, though 'Like Sonny', a tribute to Sonny Stitt with no hint of pastiche, is worth the wait."[3]
Track listing
edit- All compositions by Fred Anderson except as indicated
- "Birdhouse" - 18:55
- "Bernice" - 16:11
- "Like Sonny" - 15:33
- "Waiting for M.C." (Fred Anderson - Hamid Drake) - 12:20
Personnel
edit- Fred Anderson - tenor sax
- Jim Baker - piano
- Harrison Bankhead - bass
- Hamid Drake - drums