Crystals

There are only about 15 musicians actually heard on Crystals, but more than 60 are credited in the liner notes, because saxophonist and composer Sam Rivers wanted to acknowledge everyone who played at rehearsals and helped shape the music. The band on the final album included three trumpets, two trombones and Joe Daley on tuba and euphonium, five saxophones (plus clarinets and flutes), Gregory Maker on acoustic and electric bass, and two drummers. The six compositions were written between 1959 and 1972, with Rivers chipping away at them slowly until he was satisfied. The result is a tight, densely orchestrated big band album propelled by a churning double rhythm team (and not anchored by a piano), with the horns surging and spitting fire, and soloists going all the way off. Some pieces are more traditionally “jazzy” than others; while “Tranquility” is anchored by a thick funk groove, “Bursts” swings hard. When it first came out in 1974, this album was released in quadrophonic sound, and it would probably be amazing on a surround system. But even in plain old stereo, it’ll blow your hair back.