🎷 AotW: Horizon Charlie Haden - THE GOLDEN NUMBER (SP-727)

[Captain Bacardi]

Charlie Haden
THE GOLDEN NUMBER
A&M/Horizon SP-727

Released 1977

Format: Vinyl/Cassette/CD

Songs & Musicians:

• 1. Out Of Focus (Charlie Haden) - 7:27[list:7d99a48755]Charlie Haden - Basses
  Don Cherry - Trumpet and Flutes
  Recorded by Baker Bigsby with assistance from Geoff Sykes at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California, June 7, 1976.
  Produced by Ed Michel

2. Shepp's Way (Charlie Haden) - 12:07

• Charlie Haden - Bass
  Archie Shepp - Tenor Saxophone
  Recorded by Tony May at Generation Sound, N.Y.C., December 20, 1976.
  Produced by John Snyder

3. Turnaround (Ornette Coleman) - 7:52

• Charlie Haden - Bass
  Hampton Hawes - Piano
  Recorded by Baker Bigsby at Village Recorder, Los Angeles, August 21, 1976.
  Produced by Ed Michel

4. The Golden Number (Charlie Haden) - 12:28

• Charlie Haden - Bass
  Ornette Coleman - Trumpet
  Recorded by Tony May at Generation Sound, N.Y.C., December 19, 1976.
  Produced by John Snyder

[/list:u:7d99a48755]

Mixed by Baker Bigsby, Ed Michel (for V.P.I.) and John Snyder at Village Recorder, Los Angeles, March 14 and 15, 1977.
Mastered by Bernie Grundman.

Art Direction: Roland Young
Design: Phil Shima
Front Cover Illustration: Lou Beach
Photos: John Snyder and Joy Bryan Koenig
Liner notes by Charlie Haden, Ornette Coleman, Hampton Hawes, Archie Shepp and Don Cherry.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Another interesting duet album by bassist Charlie Haden, exploring more of a free jazz concept. There's a couple of interesting twists here, with Hampton Hawes playing on an Ornette Coleman tune, while Ornette plays trumpet on a Haden song. The highlight is Hawes on Ornette's classic "Turnaround", which is actually the only straight-ahead piece on this album. Archie Shepp is a total joy to listen to on "Shepp's Way", a very bluesy piece. And while Ornette doesn't have a great range on trumpet, his lines are similar to what he does on sax. Don Cherry switches between trumpet and flute on "Out Of Focus". I really liked the overall feel of this album, especially the energy that comes out of Haden himself. 4 stars.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Dave]

Oh, this is the Bass as a Lead Instrument... I remember another album Haden did like this, too...

Bass and Trumpet..., Bass and Piano..., Bass and Saxophone...,....



Dave

 

[Captain Bacardi]

I wouldn't say that this is a bass lead per se, but a lot of interaction with the other respective instruments, just as he did on his Closeness album (SP-710).



Capt. Bacardi

 

[A&Mguyfromwayback]

Charlie Haden is a really inventive and adventurous musician - he did a wonderful album of old gospel spirituals with pianist Hank Jones. I don't know this album at all; my only question would be why there's a drawing of Janet Reno on the cover....

 

[Mr Bill]

...my only question would be why there's a drawing of Janet Reno on the cover.

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Wow, that's an image I didn't need!

But this album is great. It can be challenging at times, particularly on the title track with Ornette Coleman playing trumpet, but there are a couple of gems, highlighted by Hampton Hawes appearance on Ornette's "Turnaround" and "Shepp's Way" with Archie Shepp. Pretty hip stuff.



Capt. Bacardi