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{{In use|time=14:29, 24 December 2024 (UTC)}}
{{Infobox album {{Infobox album
| name = Signs of Life | name = Signs of Life
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| next_year = 1992 | next_year = 1992
}} }}
'''''Signs of Life''''' is an album by the American musician ], released in 1991.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chadwick |first1=Alex |title=Apfelbaum Is Accomplished Musician |work=Morning Edition |agency=NPR |date=August 8, 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Nicholson |first1=Stuart |title=Jazz Rock: A History |date=1998 |publisher=Schirmer Books |page=332}}</ref> He is credited with his band the Hieroglyphics Ensemble.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Oullette |first1=Dan |title=Working through adversity |magazine=DownBeat |date=September 1996 |volume=63 |issue=9 |page=43}}</ref> "Candles and Stone" was nominated for a ] for "Best Arrangement on an Instrumental".<ref>{{cite news |title=Other Grammy Nominees |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 10, 1992 |page=F10}}</ref> It was also nominated for a ] for "Outstanding Jazz Album".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sumrall |first1=Harry |title=Metallica, Huey Lewis Dominate Bammie List |work=San Jose Mercury News |date=November 22, 1991 |department=Eye |page=22}}</ref> '''''Signs of Life''''' is an album by the American musician ], released in 1991.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chadwick |first1=Alex |title=Apfelbaum Is Accomplished Musician |work=Morning Edition |agency=NPR |date=August 8, 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Nicholson |first1=Stuart |title=Jazz Rock: A History |date=1998 |publisher=Schirmer Books |page=332}}</ref> He is credited with his band the Hieroglyphics Ensemble.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Oullette |first1=Dan |title=Working through adversity |magazine=DownBeat |date=September 1996 |volume=63 |issue=9 |page=43}}</ref> "Candles and Stone" was nominated for a ] for "Best Arrangement on an Instrumental".<ref>{{cite news |title=Other Grammy Nominees |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 10, 1992 |page=F10}}</ref> The album was nominated for a ] for "Outstanding Jazz Album".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sumrall |first1=Harry |title=Metallica, Huey Lewis Dominate Bammie List |work=San Jose Mercury News |date=November 22, 1991 |department=Eye |page=22}}</ref>


==Production== ==Production==
Line 39: Line 38:
The '']'' stated that "the pieces with the greatest range and change work best, while more static numbers ... seem the most strained."<ref name=CT/> Fernando Gonzalez of '']'' included the album on his list of the 10 most notable albums of 1991 and wrote, "Wildly ambitious and fearless, reedman and composer Apfelbaum and his large ensemble mix extended forms, subtle colors, unusual instrumentation and a big punch."<ref name="BG">{{cite news |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Fernando |title=Top 10 Records of 1991 |work=The Boston Globe |date=December 19, 1991 |department=Calendar |page=14}}</ref> The '']'' called the album "a dancing melange of Afro-Cuban, funk and reggae rhythms, jazz improvisation, gongs, bells and chanting voices."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hamlin |first1=Jesse |title=Something Else |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=June 4, 1991 |page=E2}}</ref> The '']'' stated that "the pieces with the greatest range and change work best, while more static numbers ... seem the most strained."<ref name=CT/> Fernando Gonzalez of '']'' included the album on his list of the 10 most notable albums of 1991 and wrote, "Wildly ambitious and fearless, reedman and composer Apfelbaum and his large ensemble mix extended forms, subtle colors, unusual instrumentation and a big punch."<ref name="BG">{{cite news |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Fernando |title=Top 10 Records of 1991 |work=The Boston Globe |date=December 19, 1991 |department=Calendar |page=14}}</ref> The '']'' called the album "a dancing melange of Afro-Cuban, funk and reggae rhythms, jazz improvisation, gongs, bells and chanting voices."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hamlin |first1=Jesse |title=Something Else |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=June 4, 1991 |page=E2}}</ref>


The '']'' opined that "the band's earnest enthusiasm occasionally exceeds its abilities, and the lyrics hint at post-hippie pretension, but the spirit never wavers."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Rick |title=Signs of Life Peter Apfelbaum and the Hieroglyphics Ensemble |work=Houston Chronicle |date=June 16, 1991 |location=Zest |page=15}}</ref> The '']'' included ''Signs of Life'' on its list of the best underheard albums of 1991.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Katz |first1=Larry |title=A music reviewer's reward is finding those unexpected gems |work=Boston Herald |date=January 3, 1992 |department=Scene |page=15}}</ref> The '']'' listed it as the 10th best jazz album of 1991.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Buckley |first1=Daniel |title=Best jazz of '91 not all new |work=Tucson Citizen |date=December 19, 1991 |department=Calendar |page=16}}</ref> The '']'' opined that "the band's earnest enthusiasm occasionally exceeds its abilities, and the lyrics hint at post-hippie pretension, but the spirit never wavers."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Rick |title=Signs of Life Peter Apfelbaum and the Hieroglyphics Ensemble |work=Houston Chronicle |date=June 16, 1991 |location=Zest |page=15}}</ref> The '']'' included ''Signs of Life'' on its list of the best underheard albums of 1991.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Katz |first1=Larry |title=A music reviewer's reward is finding those unexpected gems |work=Boston Herald |date=January 3, 1992 |department=Scene |page=15}}</ref> The '']'' listed it as the 10th best jazz album of the year.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Buckley |first1=Daniel |title=Best jazz of '91 not all new |work=Tucson Citizen |date=December 19, 1991 |department=Calendar |page=16}}</ref>


In 2000, ''Signs of Life'' was included in ''The Essential Jazz Records, Volume 2: Modernism to Postmodernism''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Buium |first1=Greg |title=Ragtime, fusion and all that jazz |work=The Globe and Mail |date=December 16, 2000 |page=D8}}</ref> In 2009, the '']'' deemed it an "Essential Bay Area Jazz Album", praising "not only by the shear power of the big-group sound but the way Apfelbaum's delicate engineering of the tunes allows individual voice to shine through."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Becker |first1=David |title=Essential Bay Area jazz albums: Peter Apfelbaum |work=San Francisco Examiner |date=July 17, 2009}}</ref> In 2000, ''Signs of Life'' was included in ''The Essential Jazz Records, Volume 2: Modernism to Postmodernism''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Buium |first1=Greg |title=Ragtime, fusion and all that jazz |work=The Globe and Mail |date=December 16, 2000 |page=D8}}</ref> In 2009, the '']'' deemed it an "Essential Bay Area Jazz Album", praising "not only by the shear power of the big-group sound but the way Apfelbaum's delicate engineering of the tunes allows individual voice to shine through."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Becker |first1=David |title=Essential Bay Area jazz albums: Peter Apfelbaum |work=San Francisco Examiner |date=July 17, 2009}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 16:01, 24 December 2024

1991 studio album by Peter Apfelbaum
Signs of Life
Studio album by Peter Apfelbaum
Released1991
GenreJazz
LabelAntilles
ProducerHans Wendl, Wayne Horvitz
Peter Apfelbaum chronology
Pillars
(1979)
Signs of Life
(1991)
Jodoji Brightness
(1992)

Signs of Life is an album by the American musician Peter Apfelbaum, released in 1991. He is credited with his band the Hieroglyphics Ensemble. "Candles and Stone" was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Arrangement on an Instrumental". The album was nominated for a Bammie Award for "Outstanding Jazz Album".

Production

The album was produced by Hans Wendl and Wayne Horvitz. More than 15 musicians contributed to the recording sessions, including Will Bernard on guitar and Paul Hanson on bassoon. "Folksong #7" is a reworking of the traditional spiritual "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore". "Grounding" is dominated by the interplay between bassoon and electric guitar.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide
Oakland Tribune
The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette

The Chicago Tribune stated that "the pieces with the greatest range and change work best, while more static numbers ... seem the most strained." Fernando Gonzalez of The Boston Globe included the album on his list of the 10 most notable albums of 1991 and wrote, "Wildly ambitious and fearless, reedman and composer Apfelbaum and his large ensemble mix extended forms, subtle colors, unusual instrumentation and a big punch." The San Francisco Chronicle called the album "a dancing melange of Afro-Cuban, funk and reggae rhythms, jazz improvisation, gongs, bells and chanting voices."

The Houston Chronicle opined that "the band's earnest enthusiasm occasionally exceeds its abilities, and the lyrics hint at post-hippie pretension, but the spirit never wavers." The Boston Herald included Signs of Life on its list of the best underheard albums of 1991. The Tucson Citizen listed it as the 10th best jazz album of the year.

In 2000, Signs of Life was included in The Essential Jazz Records, Volume 2: Modernism to Postmodernism. In 2009, the San Francisco Examiner deemed it an "Essential Bay Area Jazz Album", praising "not only by the shear power of the big-group sound but the way Apfelbaum's delicate engineering of the tunes allows individual voice to shine through."

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Candles and Stones" 
2."Walk to the Mountain (And Tell the Story of Love's Thunderclapping Eyes)" 
3."Grounding" 
4."The Last Door" 
5."The World Is Gifted" 
6."Chant #11" 
7."Forwarding, Parts 1 & 2" 
8."Samantha Smith" 
9."Folksong #7" 
10."Waiting" 

References

  1. Chadwick, Alex (August 8, 1991). "Apfelbaum Is Accomplished Musician". Morning Edition. NPR.
  2. Nicholson, Stuart (1998). Jazz Rock: A History. Schirmer Books. p. 332.
  3. Oullette, Dan (September 1996). "Working through adversity". DownBeat. Vol. 63, no. 9. p. 43.
  4. "Other Grammy Nominees". Los Angeles Times. January 10, 1992. p. F10.
  5. Sumrall, Harry (November 22, 1991). "Metallica, Huey Lewis Dominate Bammie List". Eye. San Jose Mercury News. p. 22.
  6. ^ MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 43.
  7. ^ Karlovits, Bob (August 29, 1991). "Entertainment". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. D5.
  8. Elwood, Philip (June 11, 1991). "Two winning local CDs". San Francisco Examiner. p. C3.
  9. ^ Kelp, Larry (May 26, 1991). "Pop". Sunday. Oakland Tribune. p. 6.
  10. "Signs of Life Review by Scott Yanow". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  11. ^ Heim, Chris (August 22, 1991). "Recordings". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  12. The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette. Penguin Books. 1994. pp. 40–41.
  13. Gonzalez, Fernando (December 19, 1991). "Top 10 Records of 1991". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 14.
  14. Hamlin, Jesse (June 4, 1991). "Something Else". San Francisco Chronicle. p. E2.
  15. Mitchell, Rick (June 16, 1991). "Signs of Life Peter Apfelbaum and the Hieroglyphics Ensemble". Houston Chronicle. Zest. p. 15.
  16. Katz, Larry (January 3, 1992). "A music reviewer's reward is finding those unexpected gems". Scene. Boston Herald. p. 15.
  17. Buckley, Daniel (December 19, 1991). "Best jazz of '91 not all new". Calendar. Tucson Citizen. p. 16.
  18. Buium, Greg (December 16, 2000). "Ragtime, fusion and all that jazz". The Globe and Mail. p. D8.
  19. Becker, David (July 17, 2009). "Essential Bay Area jazz albums: Peter Apfelbaum". San Francisco Examiner.
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