Ten Freedom Summers
Wadada Leo Smith · 2012
273 min · 19 tracks · jazz
A sweeping orchestral jazz exploration intertwining civil rights narratives with profound emotional depth.
Why this album works
'Ten Freedom Summers' is notable for its ambitious scope, comprising over four hours of music that reflects on pivotal moments in the American civil rights movement. The album received critical acclaim, being nominated for a Grammy Award and lauded for its unique ability to blend historical narrative with jazz improvisation.
- Best for
- dynamic exploration of historical themes wave-like pacing with emotional depth immersive storytelling through sound
- Context
- By 2012, Wadada Leo Smith was a celebrated figure in avant-garde jazz, known for his innovative trumpet work. 'Ten Freedom Summers' arrived as his first major orchestral project after years of influential small group recordings, marking a significant evolution in his artistic expression.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Prince· Diana Ross· Bob Dylan· Christina Aguilera· Barbra Streisand· Chicago· Aretha Franklin· Madonna
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 Dred Scott: 1857 11:48
- 2 Malik Al Shabazz and the People of the Shahada 5:15
- 3 Emmett Till: Defiant, Fearless Standout 18:02
- 4 Thurgood Marshall and Brown Vs. Board of Education: A Dream of Equal Education, 1954 Standout 15:05
- 5 John F. Kennedy's New Frontier and the Space Age, 1960 22:08
Disc 2
- 1 Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, 381 Days 12:43
- 2 Black Church 16:35
- 3 Freedom Summer: Voter Registration, Acts of Compassion and Empowerment, 1964 12:34
- 4 Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 24:12
Disc 3
- 1 The Freedom Riders Ride 16:40
- 2 Medgar Evers: A Love-Voice of a Thousand Years' Journey for Liberty and Justice 10:07
- 3 The D.C. Wall: A War Memorial for All Times 12:17
- 4 Buzzsaw: The Myth of a Free Press 15:03
- 5 The Little Rock Nine: A Force for Desegregation in Education, 1957 13:49
Disc 4
- 1 America, Parts 1, 2 & 3 14:11
- 2 September 11th, 2001: A Memorial 9:39
- 3 Fannie Lou Hamer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, 1964 8:36
- 4 Democracy Standout 14:30
- 5 Martin Luther King, Jr: Memphis, the Prophecy 20:34
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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