Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet

Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet is a solo album by trumpeter Hugh Ragin. It was released in 2002 by Hopscotch Records.[1][2][3][4]

Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet
Studio album by
Released2002
GenreJazz
Length1:00:22
LabelHopscotch Records
HOP 13
Hugh Ragin chronology
Feel the Sunshine
(2002)
Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet
(2002)
Revelation
(2004)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Penguin Guide to Jazz    [5]

The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings wrote: "solo trumpet is a touch discipline for a record, and it's to Hugh's credit that he makes this set as engaging to a listener as it is."[5]

Ken Waxman of JazzWord described Ragin as a "consummate trumpet technician," and stated: "The most interesting pieces... are two of the longest... 'Rhythm Unit #5'... centres around constantly repeated grace notes that fluctuate up the scale. Growls and peeps arise from within the bell followed by a melody that moves from allegro to adagio, finally expanding from chromatic trills into loud, sharp, pinpointed whole notes. 'Rhythm Unit #4'... features a wavering tone, staccato triple tonguing and broken high notes, which — perhaps following Ragin's legit training — continue in a straight line rather than turning chaotic."[6]

A writer for The New York City Jazz Record called the album "a stand-out," and commented: "the trumpeter says it wasn't a strange concept, given solo discs by [Anthony] Braxton, [Leo] Smith and [Roscoe] Mitchell. On it Ragin salutes figures as disparate as Miles Davis, Braxton and even plays 'Variations on a Theme by Paganini' while still maintaining his originality."[7]

Track listing

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"Rhythm Units" #1–9 composed by Wadada Leo Smith. "Perpetual Motion" based on a theme by Niccolò Paganini. Remaining compositions by Hugh Ragin.

  1. "For the Joy of Sound Space & Music (This is an Improvisation Using Studio Technology)" – 10:29
  2. "Parisian Sunrise (This is a Ballad Using Natural Trumpet Tones)" – 4:51
  3. "Rhythm Unit #1 (This Composition Reminds Me of the Sun and How It Creates Shadows)" – 2:13
  4. "Rhythm Unit #2 (This Rhythm Unit as I Interpreted It, Reminds Me of the Stars and How They Function in the Universe)" – 2:04
  5. "Rhythm Unit #3 (Listen to This Rhythm Unit as Mean of Entering Peace)" – 4:12
  6. "Rhythm Unit #4 (We Can Change for the Better When We Seek to Expend Our Horizons)" – 2:13
  7. "Rhythm Unit #5 (This is a Reflection on Thoughts and Intents)" – 4:34
  8. "Rhythm Unit #6 (This Reminds Me of When the Sun Comes Out, You Cannot See the Stars)" – 5:22
  9. "Rhythm Unit #7 (Abstract Blue is the Colour of Music)" – 3:43
  10. "Rhythm Unit #8 (This a Space for Sound Music)" – 3:28
  11. "Rhythm Unit #9 (We Close our Rhythm Units with Sound Music for Space)" – 3:06
  12. "Ballad for Miles (Self Explanatory)" – 4:23
  13. "Perpetual Motion (Variations on a Theme by Paganini)" – 1:59
  14. "Braxton Dues (Dedicated to Anthony Braxton)" – 4:27
  15. "Emergency Exit" – 2:04

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ "Hugh Ragin: Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet". AllMusic. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Hugh Ragin / Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet". ArtistInfo. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  3. ^ "Hugh Ragin discography". JazzLists. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "Hopscotch Records Catalog". Hopscotch Records. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2006). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. Penguin Books. p. 1088.
  6. ^ Waxman, Ken (January 5, 2004). "Hugh Ragin / Ruth Barberán / Matt Davis / Alfredo Costa Monteiro". JazzWord. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "Hugh Ragin". The New York City Jazz Record. May 2015. p. 10.