GARRETT LIST – Your Own Self (LP-1972 / Opus One – number 15)

Label: Opus One – number 15

Format: Vinyl, LP / Country: US / Released: 1972

Style: Contemporary, Experimental, Minimal

Label based in Maine run by composer Max Schubel

Works from 1971

Artwork [Cover Art] – Ursula Belden / ?

There are two colour variations of the cover: Green and Orange

Engineer [Recording] – Mike Wolfe

Executive Director – Max Schubel

Composed By – Garrett List

Matrix / Runout (A): OPUS ONE 15AR

Matrix / Runout (B): OPUS ONE 15B

A - Your Own Self ...................................................................... 18:34

B - Your Own Self ...................................................................... 16:37

VOICE –––

          Joan LaBarbara

          Jay Clayton

          Jerry Kaplan

Jon Gibson ––– Saxophone

Mark Gould ––– Trumpet

Lou Ranger ––– Trumpet

David Jolley ––– French Horn

Garrett List ––– Trombone

Roy Pennington ––– Vibraphone

Barry Jekowski ––– Vibraphone

Rick Cutler ––– Piano

Frederic Rzewski ––– Piano

Gregory Reeves ––– Percussion

Gordon Gottliebs ––– Percussion

Mike Williams ––– bass

This piece is a beautiful example of a minimalist/jazz crossover which is exceptionally unique. It inhabits a somewhat similar world to Fred Rzewski's "Coming Together" and "Attica", but is much more indebted to jazz, with a heavily improvised middle section...

Garrett List ––– Trombone

The piece begins with an organ drone, and some quiet singing and reciting of phrases from the text. Gradually more instruments are introduced, primarily horns playing long tones. After a couple of minutes the bass comes in, and starts playing sparse notes, which over several minutes become more frequent until it's playing a full-fledged jazzy bass-line. The horns follow a similar build-up from long tones to faster playing.

The build up in this piece is perfect. It's so slow and fluid, you barely notice anything is happening, until you compare two points in the piece. At 11:00ish on side A there's a sudden break, and a fast, hihat-based drum beat comes in, the first major change in the piece. This section has a beautiful texture with fast piano scales, sparse bass notes, long horn tones, fast vibes, and vocalists singing and reciting the text.

Side A fades out, and Side B begins where A left off, jumping quickly into a long section of freeish jazz, with a propulsive rhythm section laying the base. This goes on for about 9 minutes, and then the piece goes back into a section resembling the first part, with long tones and quiet speaking voices.

There's Fred Rzewski on piano, Jon Gibson on sax, and vocalist Joan LaBarbara (who is an excellent composer as well, and appears on the classic 70s recording of Philip Glass' "Music in Twelve Parts").

Excellently pressed. Great dynamics and sound. Stunningly beautiful piece to be listened to at high volume. Wonderful!

Your Own Self, sought and received, mister ..... correct silence.

If you find it, buy this album!