Is And Your Ivory Voice Sings a good place to start with Marilyn Crispell?

Yes, And Your Ivory Voice Sings is recommended as a starting point for new Marilyn Crispell listeners. A tapestry of intricate piano lines and emotive improvisations that navigate the delicate boundaries between jazz and avant-garde. Released in 1985, And Your Ivory Voice Sings marked Marilyn Crispell's debut album as a leader after establishing herself as a prominent pianist within the jazz avant-garde scene. This album came shortly after her collaborations with notable artists like Anthony Braxton, highlighting her evolution into a distinctive voice in modern jazz.

Who is And Your Ivory Voice Sings for?

And Your Ivory Voice Sings works well if you're into introspective late-night listening, patient unfolding of themes and evocative soundscapes for reflection.

How many songs are on And Your Ivory Voice Sings?

And Your Ivory Voice Sings has 7 tracks, running approximately 42 minutes.

And Your Ivory Voice Sings

Marilyn Crispell · 1985

42 min · 7 tracks · jazz

A tapestry of intricate piano lines and emotive improvisations that navigate the delicate boundaries between jazz and avant-garde.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Element Air... Leap Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Opium Dream Eyes — This track showcases Crispell's lyrical piano style intertwined with intricate improvisational passages, illustrating her unique voice and emotional depth.
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Song for Jeanne Lee — Dedicated to vocalist Jeanne Lee, this piece highlights Crispell's sensitivity and ability to create an evocative atmosphere through sparse yet impactful melodies.
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And Your Ivory Sings (for Cecil Taylor) — This homage to Cecil Taylor encapsulates Crispell's adventurous spirit and technical prowess, merging rhythmic complexity with expressive playing.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

Instrumental

66 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong improvisation and unique piano techniques, making it distinct within the jazz genre.

What we noticed

The album features extended improvisational sections, with each track often exceeding six minutes, allowing for deep exploration of themes.
The use of silence is prominent, with several moments where the piano pauses before resuming, emphasizing the emotional weight of the music.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

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.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

introspective late-night listening
patient unfolding of themes
evocative soundscapes for reflection
immersive textures for deep focus

Maybe skip if you

seekers of instant gratification
prefer upbeat, fast-paced tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album marked a significant recognition of Crispell's unique artistic voice.
Themes: avant-garde jazz exploration· homage to Cecil Taylor· intimate piano improvisation
Career context: Released in 1985, And Your Ivory Voice Sings marked Marilyn Crispell's debut album as a leader after establishing herself as a prominent pianist within the jazz avant-garde scene. This album came shortly after her collaborations with notable artists like Anthony Braxton, highlighting her evolution into a distinctive voice in modern jazz.
Stylistic neighbors: Cecil Taylor· Paul Bley· Annette Peacock