Akhenaten Suite cover

Akhenaten Suite

Roy Campbell, Jr. · 2008

57 min · 7 tracks · jazz

A sweeping jazz composition that weaves intricate improvisations with evocative themes of ancient Egypt.

Spotify Apple Music
Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Akhenaten (Amenophis, Amenhotep IV) — Opening the suite, this track sets the tone with rich textures and a haunting melody that encapsulates the spirit of its historical subject.
  • →
    Pharaoh’s Revenge Part 1 — This piece contrasts rhythmic intensity with lyrical improvisation, embodying the tension and drama associated with Akhenaten's reign.
  • →
    Sunset on the Nile — Closing the suite, this track employs lush harmonies and expansive solos to evoke a sense of reflection and serenity, symbolizing closure.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
65 /100
Treeline
Higher than 88% of albums we've rated

The album's thematic structure and seamless transitions highlight its artistic ambition within jazz.

What we noticed

  • The album features a continuous flow of themes, with tracks transitioning seamlessly into one another, creating an overarching narrative.
  • Improvisation is a key element, with each musician taking turns to explore motifs introduced in the opening track.
  • Several tracks utilize varying dynamics, building intensity before dropping to quieter passages that evoke a sense of reflection.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
9/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Akhenaten (Amenophis, Amenhotep IV) 11:40
  • 2 Aten and Amarna 6:30
  • 3 Pharaoh’s Revenge (Akhenaten) Intro Part 1 2:53
  • 4 Pharaoh’s Revenge Part 1 10:24
  • 5 Pharaoh’s Revenge (Tutankhamun) Intro Part 2 3:07
  • 6 Pharaoh’s Revenge Part 2 10:31
  • 7 Sunset on the Nile 12:09

What to play next

Arts Interplay
Listen next

Arts Interplay

2008
Ethnic Stew and Brew
Go back to

Ethnic Stew and Brew

2001
Full Roy Campbell, Jr. discography Artists like Roy Campbell, Jr.
jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata