What makes Metamorphosis by World Saxophone Quartet notable?

Metamorphosis was praised for its artistic ambition and received significant attention within the jazz community, influencing emerging avant-garde artists. It reflected a fusion of various musical styles, which contributed to discussions about the evolution of jazz in the early '90s, exemplifying how jazz could address broader cultural themes. Upon its release in 1990, Metamorphosis marked the World Saxophone Quartet's fifth album, solidifying their role as innovators in the jazz genre. This album followed their critically acclaimed work from the late 1980s and showcased a maturation in their sound, incorporating more complex arrangements and thematic depth.

How many songs are on Metamorphosis?

Metamorphosis has 10 tracks, running approximately 61 minutes.

Metamorphosis

World Saxophone Quartet · 1990

61 min · 10 tracks · jazz

A vibrant tapestry of avant-garde jazz, blending intricate saxophone harmonies with diverse cultural rhythms and deep emotional narratives.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Metamorphosis — The title track encapsulates the album's essence, illustrating a seamless blend of improvisation and structured composition that highlights each member's virtuosity.
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Ballad for the Black Man — This track stands out for its poignant tribute to African American heritage, combining lyrical melodies with powerful rhythmic undercurrents that evoke deep emotions.
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Feed the People — With its extended runtime, this piece builds a sense of urgency and communal spirit, showcasing the quartet's ability to weave storytelling into their musical expressions.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

Instrumental

71 /100

Alpine

Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

The album showcases complex saxophone arrangements and diverse rhythms, making it a notable entry in avant-garde jazz.

What we noticed

The album features intricate interweaving saxophone lines that create a dense harmonic texture across all ten tracks.
Each track varies in tempo and rhythm, often incorporating elements from different cultural music traditions.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
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 The Holy Men 2:50
2 Lullaby 4:52
3 Metamorphosis 3:30
4 Su Mama Ah Zumu 6:27
5 Africa 8:56
6 Ballad for the Black Man 7:54
7 Masai Warriors Dance 5:16
8 Love Like Sisters 4:08
9 Lo Chi Lo 6:59
10 Feed the People 10:57

What to play next

Listen next

Moving Right Along

1993

Go back to

Rhythm and Blues

1989

Full World Saxophone Quartet discography Artists like World Saxophone Quartet

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