Moving Portrait
Dave Douglas · 1998
64 min · 9 tracks · jazz
A rich tapestry of improvisation and structured melodies that melds contemporary jazz with evocative storytelling.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Nine Cloud Dream Start here — This track opens the album with an ethereal quality, featuring intricate melodies that set the tone for the explorative nature of the record.
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Moving Portrait — The title track serves as a centerpiece, showcasing Douglas's ability to weave complex harmonies with emotive improvisation, creating a vivid sonic landscape.
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First Frost — With its delicate interplay between instruments, this track highlights Douglas's sensitivity to nuance and texture, embodying the album's overarching themes of change and reflection.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album blends structured melodies with improvisation, showcasing distinctive compositions and strong craftsmanship.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic peaks and valleys
- intricate melodies with improvisation
- reflective moments of calm
- engaging late-night listening experience
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward, quick tracks
- seek instant gratification in music
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — The album exemplifies Douglas's unique voice and received critical acclaim.
- Themes
- ethereal soundscapes· avant-garde jazz exploration· improvisational storytelling
- Career context
- Upon the release of 'Moving Portrait' in 1998, Dave Douglas was establishing himself as a prominent figure in the avant-garde jazz scene. This album followed his acclaimed work on 'High Risk' and continued to showcase his innovative approach to composition and collaboration, solidifying his reputation as a boundary-pushing artist.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Chris Potter· Avishai Cohen· Maria Schneider
Tracklist
- 1 The Nine Cloud Dream Start here 5:18
- 2 Paradox 7:28
- 3 Moving Portrait 10:04
- 4 First Frost 6:30
- 5 Roses Blue 2:53
- 6 My Old Man 7:41
- 7 The Same Situation 6:01
- 8 Movement 8:14
- 9 Romero 10:36
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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