What makes Life in the Sugar Candle Mines by Gerald Cleaver notable?

This album received critical acclaim for its innovative approach to jazz, showcasing Cleaver's unique blend of structure and spontaneity. It has been recognized as a significant contribution to contemporary jazz, influencing a new generation of musicians who appreciate the balance between improvisation and composition. Released in 2013, Life in the Sugar Candle Mines is Gerald Cleaver's third album, following his 2009 release, a period marked by an exploration of complex improvisational forms. At this stage in his career, Cleaver was solidifying his voice within the avant-garde jazz scene, collaborating with notable figures and expanding his artistic vision.

How many songs are on Life in the Sugar Candle Mines?

Life in the Sugar Candle Mines has 8 tracks, running approximately 77 minutes.

Life in the Sugar Candle Mines

Gerald Cleaver · 2013

77 min · 8 tracks · jazz

A sprawling avant-garde jazz journey blending intricate rhythms with expansive soundscapes, inviting deep contemplation and immersive listening.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Hover — The opening track sets an ambitious tone with its lengthy exploration of texture and rhythm, establishing the album's overarching themes of fluidity and depth.
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Citizen Rose — This track features a captivating dialogue between instruments that encapsulates Cleaver's skill in blending traditional jazz elements with avant-garde sensibilities.
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Gromek — With its intricate layering and dynamic shifts, Gromek serves as a highlight, demonstrating the interplay between structured motifs and freeform expression prevalent throughout the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

Instrumental

70 /100

Alpine

Higher than 94% of albums we've rated

The album's intricate rhythms and expansive soundscapes create a unique listening experience that rewards deep engagement.

What we noticed

The album features extended tracks, with several exceeding eight minutes, allowing for deep improvisational exploration.
Each piece often shifts dynamics and tempo multiple times, creating a sense of unpredictability and fluidity.

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

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. 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 Hover 16:10
2 Ayler Children 11:23
3 Citizen Rose 8:04
4 Test-Sunday 6:34
5 Amsterdam / Frames 6:01
6 Gromek 12:58
7 Wrestling 5:59
8 May Be Home 10:27

What to play next

Listen next

Love and Ghosts

2014

Go back to

Out of This World's Distortions

2011

Full Gerald Cleaver discography Artists like Gerald Cleaver

avant-garde music jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata