Hannibal and the Sunrise Orchestra: The Light

[ep1str0phy]

I've always been a casual fan of Hannibal Marivn Peterson--a terrific, combustible trumpeter, perhaps best known for his work with Gil Evans. He has also waxed a number of 'sleeper classic' solo recordings, mostly informed by the modal, post-Coltrane tradition (he was, for example, a key player on Pharoah's Black Unity) and featuring some excellent playing. Few of these are available on CD, and most are lost to the veritable slough of groovy modal free-ish post-bop that still clogs the used LP bins (and most of the dustygroove catalogue).

Yesterday, fortunately, I tracked down a Japanese-only issue of "The Light"--obscure enough to fail mention at allmusic guide but not so unheard as to escape the few discographies scattered about the internet. Recorded in 1978, "The Light" is squarely in the vein I earlier described--hard modal vamps, dense, vertiginous solo spots, and lots of dated, if still effective spiritual discourse. What's really interesting are the details. Like the one Peterson album still listed on dustygroove, we've got the woefully underrated Diedre Murray on cello, the great Cecil McBee on bass, and some great playing by some relative unknowns (pianist Michael Cohrane, who does as good a McCoy Tyner as anyone I've heard, and drummer David Lee). There are some percussion and vocal spots as well... but what really drives me wild--and the reason I purchased the album, in the end--is a brief, incendiary appearance by free jazz superhero Frank Wright, whose bass clarinet lights a fire under everyone's almost-too-careful asses.

Any thoughts on this one--or any other recordings by Mr. Peterson? I'd also be interested in hearing what y'all have to say about Ms. Murray and Mr. Wright, whose discographies are in great disproportion to such mad, mad, skills.

Edited September 18, 2006 by ep1str0phy

[marcello]

I have this one on LP:

HANNIBAL MARVIN PETERSON & THE SUNRISE ORCHESTRA "Children Of The Fire"

Sunrise Records 1944 (LP, 1974)

Dimension 1:

1) 1st Movement: Forest Sunrise (Hannibal) ( 9:02)

A. Rhythm Ritual

B. Song Of Life

2) 2nd Movement: The Bombing (Hannibal) ( 3:10)

A. Prelude

Dimension 2:

3) 3rd Movement: Prayer (Hannibal) ( 4:50)

4) 4th Movement: Aftermath (Hannibal) (17:30)

5) 5th Movement: Finale (Hannibal) ( 1:50)

"Hannibal" M. Peterson: tp, koto

Richard Davis: b

Lawrence Killian: conga, bell tree

Billy Hart (Jabali): dr

Michael Cochrane: p

Waheeda Massey: voc (1 only)

Diedre Murray: c

Barbara Burton: tympani, perc, dr, bombs, p (3 only)

Marvin Tuten: perc, sitar, bombs

Alpha Johnson: voc

Teule Hart: perc (3 only)

Art Webb: piccolo, fl

John Blake: solo violin

Stanley Hunte,

Myung Hi Kim,

Rynae Rocha: violin

Julius Miller,

Judith Graves: viola

David Amram: cond

All music & poems composed and written by Hannibal.

The poems are printed on an extra sheet included.

The music is dedicated to the children of Vietnam.

rec. 1974

It's extrodinary!

[king ubu]

This one here's ok, but not a great one, I think:

Details:

George Adams/Hannibal Peterson

MORE SIGHTINGS

Enja 4084 (CD - 1994)

Recorded September 9, 1984, live at the Club Bazillus, Zurich

George Adams (ts, voc 6), Hannibal Peterson (tp), John Scofield (g), Ron Burton (p), Walter Schmocker (b), Allen Nelson (d)

1. More Sightings (George Adams) (5:00)

2. Don't Take Your Love From Me (Henry Nemo) (6:47)

3. Soul Brothers (Hannibal Peterson) (7:33)

4. Do We Know Where We Are Going? (John Scofield) (5:07)

5. Melanie (Hannibal Peterson) (8:57)

6. I Could Really Go For You (George Adams) ( 6:48)

[king ubu]

Btw, is your avatar from that great Kurosawa film? Had the pleasure of seing it a few months back.

[ep1str0phy]

Yeah--went on a Kurosawa tear a while back and Ikiru sticks with me... the Hannibal album you pointed out passed me by a while back, although the presence of Ron Burton--I'm assuming that's the Rahsaan pianist--is reigniting my interest.

[king ubu]

Yes, Ron/Rahn Burton... there's a thread dedicated to him somewhere here, too. It's a bit short (40-50 min - short only by CD criteria) and the musicians sound a bit restrained for it being a club date (recorded in one of the rather few legendary clubs/cellars of Zurich - before my time, alas, I would have been a little kid back then...)

[robviti]

this is the only one of his i own, and it's quite good:

and he's also excellent on this date:

[felser]

this is the only one of his i own, and it's quite good:

and he's also excellent on this date:

The Sunrise Orchestra CD far surpasses those! They are good, but you haven't really heard him if you haven't heard his first couple of solo albums. He was also on an Eric Kloss album on Muse, 'Essence' where he took an amazing solo on one long cut (forget the name of it). A shame that one's never come out on CD.

[White Lightning]

"Angels of Atlanta" is a good one

Edited September 19, 2006 by White Lightning

[Guest akanalog]

fels, i have that kloss LP too.

maybe the song is called "descent"?

anyway it is good, you're right.

i wish many muse and cobblestone albums would see digital release.

it's too bad no one is currently on the case-where is joel dorn? isn't it about time he starts a new label?

[JSngry]

I got a Hannibal 12" single direct-to-disc thing from Japan that's "Naima" on one side and something else on the other. Pretty nice, but how and if it'll ever be reissued on cd beats me.

[ep1str0phy]

The only Hannibal release I've actually seen in store on CD (besides my find) was the one Marcello mentioned above (although My Friend Louis shows up quite frequently). I'd assume there'd be a market for this stuff--especially among the groove spiritual dustgroove crowd--but, whatever the case, Hannibal's music seems to have difficulty making the media transition.

[JSngry]

I've got a couple of Enja things on CD (Angels Of Atlanta is indeed gorgeous) & the Muse, as well as his "symphonic" type thing on Teldec (not too fond of that one...). There was an Atlantic thing that I've still not heard. Same for an MPS date. The guy's not exactly been prolific over the years, but more often than not, when he's spoken, I've at least listened. Strong player with a true spirit, it seems to me.

[felser]

I've got a couple of Enja things on CD (Angels Of Atlanta is indeed gorgeous) & the Muse, as well as his "symphonic" type thing on Teldec (not too fond of that one...). There was an Atlantic thing that I've still not heard. Same for an MPS date. The guy's not exactly been prolific over the years, but more often than not, when he's spoken, I've at least listened. Strong player with a true spirit, it seems to me.

If I remember, the Atlantic was sort of his commercial turn (anyone remember J-Mac's 'Monuments' disaster on RCA or whatever it was?).

[Bright Moments]

here's one with dee dee bridgewater on vocals, marcus miller on bass and warren smith (a fave of mine) on percussion. not on cd yet and recorded in 1988:

Edited March 11, 2008 by Bright Moments

[marcello]

Here's some photos of mine.

One of the best sets of music I've ever seen:

Edited March 11, 2008 by marcello

[JSngry]

Just remembered that he's on that incendiary Richard Davis Epistrophy & Now's The Time side.

Also on a Louis Hayes Muse side.

Not yet mentioned is the live(?) Enja side with George Adams.

[clifford_thornton]

Yesterday, fortunately, I tracked down a Japanese-only issue of "The Light"--obscure enough to fail mention at allmusic guide but not so unheard as to escape the few discographies scattered about the internet. Recorded in 1978, "The Light" is squarely in the vein I earlier described--hard modal vamps, dense, vertiginous solo spots, and lots of dated, if still effective spiritual discourse. What's really interesting are the details. Like the one Peterson album still listed on dustygroove, we've got the woefully underrated Diedre Murray on cello, the great Cecil McBee on bass, and some great playing by some relative unknowns (pianist Michael Cohrane, who does as good a McCoy Tyner as anyone I've heard, and drummer David Lee). There are some percussion and vocal spots as well... but what really drives me wild--and the reason I purchased the album, in the end--is a brief, incendiary appearance by free jazz superhero Frank Wright, whose bass clarinet lights a fire under everyone's almost-too-careful asses.

Never had it - guess that's a hole in my Reverend collection.

[Rooster_Ties]

"Angels of Atlanta" is a good one

Yup!!

[kh1958]

Looking through my LPs, I have a couple of Hannibal led sessions--Hannibal in Antibes on Inner City (1977), and a different recording by the Sunrise Orchestra, on MPS, from around 1975.

He's also on the last George Adams leader session, Old Feeling, and on a few tracks on Don Pullen's Atlantic debut, Tomorrow's Promises.

[Stefan Wood]

One of my all time favorite trumpet albums. I've NEVER heard anyone match Peterson's intensity from this session.

Edited March 12, 2008 by Stefan Wood

[Hot Ptah]

Here's some photos of mine.

One of the best sets of music I've ever seen:

Marcello, Did you ever identify the mystery saxophonist in your photos, who played with Hannibal?