The Squid's Ear Magazine

Ragin, Hugh

Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet

Ragin, Hugh: Sound Pictures for Solo Trumpet (Hopscotch Records)

David Murray, Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell associate Ragin in a solo trumpet album of intense strategies that also pays tribute to Braxton, Miles and Leo Smith.
 

Price: $13.95



Quantity:

In Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 2.00 units

Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Hugh Ragin-trumpet


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




UPC: B00HW3EYJ6

Label: Hopscotch Records
Catalog ID: HOP 13
Squidco Product Code: 11909

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2002
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardstock Gatefold Sleeve
Recorded by Assif Tsahar.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"[...] Houston-born, Colorado-based Hugh Ragin, is a consummate trumpet technician, who has a Masters degree in classical trumpet performance. Besides teaching, he has also collaborated with musicians including reedists David Murray, Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell and recorded CDs ranging from bebop to out-and-out avant-garde. The 15 — not 16 as the cover sleeve notes — performances here showcase a variety of strategies for solo trumpet from short, rhythmic exercises to what could be called humanistic overdubbing.

[...] Ragin pays tribute to one influence, Miles Davis, on "Ballad for Miles"; one colleague, with "Braxton Dues"; and one teacher/associate with Wadada Leo Smith's "Rhythm Unit #1 to #9". Each of these tunes emphasizes a different facet of extended trumpet technique.

The most interesting pieces, however, are two of the longest, which touch on some reductionist techniques. "Rhythm Unit #5", for instance, centres around constantly repeated grace notes that fluctuate up the scale. Growls and peeps arise from within the bell followed by a melody that moves from allegro to adagio, finally expanding from chromatic trills into loud, sharp, pinpointed whole notes. "Rhythm Unit #4", on the other hand, features a wavering tone, staccato triple tonguing and broken high notes, which — perhaps following Ragin's legit training — continue in a straight line rather than turning chaotic.

"Braxton Dues" actually sounds like Braxton's improvising, albeit transferred onto a trumpet, utilizing a collection of grace notes expelled chromatically in standard time. The Davis tribute replicates Miles' echoing Harmon mute sounds with extra accompaniment from an overdubbed trumpet choir made up of Ragin clones that is evidently playing earlier versions of what Ragin is improvising upfront. All this does sound a little folksier than what urbanite Davis would try though. "Parisian Sunrise" is a more flavorsome ballad, put together chromatically and adagio. A feeling of melancholy pervades the composition as the trumpeter modulates down the scale, using many pre-modern held notes. Even the reverberating end uses natural trumpet tones.

Exhibiting studio technology, "For The Joy of Space & Music" is alternately gimmicky and impressive. At nearly 10½-minutes, it goes on a bit too long. With sonorities moving in and out from what appear to be five overdubbed trumpets, each grace note is picked up by the next cloned instrumentalist until the burnish is scraped out of the horn's finish. Some tones are direct, others distant, and for a time it sounds as if the tune is a film, projected in-and-out of focus. While there's more invertible counterpoint than the regular kind on tap and Ragin uses mouthpiece kisses, heraldic tones and deep breaths to his advantage here — and whinnying tones, growls and shrill suspensions elsewhere — his playing would never be confused with either of the trumpeters from URA. Instead it's another way to expand the definition of that familiar brass instrument. [...]"-Ken Waxman, Jazzword


Get additional information at Jazzword

Artist Biographies

"Hugh Ragin is an American jazz trumpeter.

Ragin was raised in Houston, Texas, and began playing trumpet in his early teens, taking lessons in classical music, and was a member of the Houston All-City High School Orchestra. He received a degree in music education from the University of Houston and a degree in classical trumpet performance from Colorado State University. He continued his education in 1978 at the Creative Music Studio with Roscoe Mitchell. One year later he performed with Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, and the Creative Orchestra at the Moers Festival in Germany. He then toured with Anthony Braxton. During the early 1980s he toured with jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. He began an association with David Murray, becoming a member of Murray's band in the 1980s."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Ragin)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. For the Joy of Sound Space & Music 10:34

2. Parisian Sunrise 4:56

3. Rhythm Units #1 2:18

4. Rhythm Units #2 2:09

5. Rhythm Units #3 4:16

6. Rhythm Units #4 2:35

7. Rhythm Units #5 4:38

8. Rhythm Units #6 5:26

9. Rhythm Units #7 3:47

10. Rhythm Units #8 3:33

11. Rhythm Units #9 3:11

12. Ballad for Miles 4:27

13. Perpetual Motion 2:04

14. Braxton Dues 4:31

15. Emergency Exit 2:04

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Jazz
Recordings featuring brass instruments - trumpets, trombones, tubas, other horns
Solo Artist Recordings
Hopscotch Records

Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Jazz
Recordings featuring brass instruments - trumpets, trombones, tubas, other horns
Solo Artist Recordings
Hopscotch Records

Search for other titles on the label:
Hopscotch Records.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Art Ensemble Of Chicago
The Sixth Decade: From Paris To Paris [VINYL 2 LPs]
(RogueArt)
Celebrating 50 years since formed as a quintet in Paris, original Art Ensemble members saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell and percussionist Famoudou Don Moye present this live concert at Maison des Arts de Creteil in France with an oustanding chamber jazz ensemble including trumpeter Hugh Ragin, flutist Nicole Mitchell, bassist Jaribu Shahid, cellist Tomeka Reid and violinist Jean Cook.
Art Ensemble Of Chicago
The Sixth Decade: From Paris To Paris [2 CDs]
(RogueArt)
Celebrating 50 years since formed as a quintet in Paris, original Art Ensemble members saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell and percussionist Famoudou Don Moye present this live concert at Maison des Arts de Creteil in France with an oustanding chamber jazz ensemble including trumpeter Hugh Ragin, flutist Nicole Mitchell, bassist Jaribu Shahid, cellist Tomeka Reid and violinist Jean Cook.
Art Ensemble of Chicago, The
We are on the Edge: A 50th Anniversary Celebration [2 CDS]
(Pi Recordings)
Marking 50 years for Chicago's most important and innovative ensembles, formed in 1969 to advance creative musicians as part of the AACM, is this tribute to and based on music written by late members Lester Bowie, Malachi Favors, and Joseph Jarman, performed by 15 innovative musicians young and old, and presented in 2 CDs: one in the studio and one live at the 2018 Edgefest.
Other Recommended Releases:
Sanford, David Big Band (feat Hugh Ragin)
A Prayer For Lester Bowie
(Greenleaf Music)
Active since 2013, David Sanford's powerful 20-piece big band based in New York City presents six Sanford originals, along with an effusive arrangement of Dizzy Gillespie's bop composition "Dizzy Atmosphere", the focal point of the album a large and spiritual work composed by trumpeter Hugh Ragin dedicated to and inspired by late trumpeter Lester Bowie.
Kabako, Solo Dja
Solo
(Hopscotch Records)
Blind guitarist and singer Solo Dja Kabako is an important figure in Burkina Faso in West Africa, whose talent took him from begging on the streets as a kid to being a treasured artist in his country, here in an album recorded in his home in Ougadougou by saxophonist Assif Tsahar after a festival where they met; a record of warm, sincere music and song.



Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought:
Zorn, John (Frisell / Riley / Lage)
Nothing Is As Real As Nothing
(Tzadik)
The completion of John Zorn's second trilogy of albums performed by the extraordinarily masterful acoustic guitar trio of Bill Frisell, Gyan Riley and Julian Lage, here performing six intricate and lyrically graceful compositions dedicated to literary visionary Samuel Beckett; uniquely packaged in a clear imprinted sleeve.
bBb (Martin Kuchen / Ola Rubin)
Animal Quotes
(Relative Pitch)
Quirky in a masterful display of instrumental skill from the Swedish duo of soprano saxophonist Martin Küchen and trombonist Ola Rubin (Swedish Fix, Lazy Rude Monk), using every inch of their instruments along with mutes, percussion and percussive emanations, creating a virtual menagerie of animalistic sounds alongside dexterous lines.
Butcher / Charbin / Kanngiesser / Prevost
The Art Of Noticing
(Matchless)
"To celebrate drummer/percussionist Eddie Prévost's 80th birthday, Café Oto hosted four concerts once a week in June, 2022, each a differing configuration from Prévost's history; this 2nd concert brings together Prévost, Marjolaine Charbin (piano), Ute Kanngiesser (cello) and John Butcher (sax), the same group that recorded the contemporary album Sounds of Assembly on the Meena label.
Zorn, John (w/ Lage / Roeder / Wollesen)
New Masada Quartet, Volume Two
(Tzadik)
LOWER PRICE! Taking on another set of compositions from John Zorn's Masada Songbook, the New and electrified Masada quartet of Kenny Wollesen on drums, Julian Lage on guitar, Jorge Roeder on bass and Zorn himself on alto saxophone releases their second volume, seven melodically rich and intricate works that lead to incredible, often burning soloing and group interchange.
Koenjihyakkei
Nivraym Revisted
(Skin Graft Records)
Originally released in 2001 on the Magaibutsu label, the 3rd studio album from Japan's Koenjihyakkei led by drummer/vocalist Yoshida Tatsuya energetically blends progressive rock, chamber rock, fusion and composed forms, here revisited for the 2nd time with the 2009 expanded reissue remixed again with new additions, plus three bonus tracks from a 2020 concert.
Risser, Eve / Red Desert Orchestra
Eurythmia
(Clean Feed)
The rhythmically rich Red Desert Orchestra assembled by pianist and composer Eve Risser is an ensemble made up of nine European musicians joined by African musicians and configured in several distinct ensembles, here as Eurythmia, collaborating with three Burkinabe musicians living in France for irresistible music at the intersection of jazz, West African and dance music.
Lih Kadim (Jaka Berger / Marko Jenic / Jure Borsic / Andre Bost Ruda / Jost Drasler / Vid Drasler)
Sunday Sextet
(FMR)
With shared background in Slovik groups and ensembles including work with Szilárd Mezei and the Olfamoštvo ensemble, the Lih Kadim sextet of electroacoustic improvisers is heard in an exceptional 2021 concert of innovative and exploratory interaction, each recording taken from a successive night performing at the Cultural Centre, Bistrica Ob Sotli in Slovenia.
Fowler, Chad / William Parker / Anders Griffen
Broken Unbroken
(Mahakala Music)
Led by New York wind and reed player Chad Fowler, who performs here on stritch, saxello & alto flute, this collective free jazz album brings together frequent collaborators, bassist William Parker (with whom Fowler plays in Dopolarians) and drummer & trumpeter Anders Griffen (heard on Thinking Unthinking and the Music of Frank Lowe) for two extended improvisations from contemplative to assertive.
Fowler, Chad / William Parker / Anders Griffen
Thinking Unthinking
(Mahakala Music)
Focusing on lyrically inclined grooves with a relaxed pace, the details and thoughtfully "unthought" playing from the NY trio of Chad Fowler on stritch, saxello & alto flute, William Parker on bass and Anders Griffen on drums, are heard in the Park West Studios in Brooklyn for three extended collective improvisations of passionate, expressive and empathetic playing.
Blaser, Samuel / Marc Ducret
Voyageurs
(Jazzdor Series)
Studio recordings from Loguivy-Plougras, France between Swiss improvising trombonist Samuel Blaser and French guitarist Marc Ducret performing on electric, 6 improvisations focused on sonic force, creative conversation and exploratory intertwining, finding mutual topics that fascinate and surprise both experimentally and lyrically; a well balanced duo.
Kuchen / Fernandez / Kaucic
The Steps That Resonate
(Not Two)
Uniquely orchestrated with all three members bringing a trove of objects & percussion, the trio of Martin Küchen on saxophones, Agustí Fernández on piano and Zlatko Kaučič on drums are heard in this two-part live concert at BUMF festival in Smartno, Slovenia, for a superb example of intent listening and use of space around confident, stunningly creative & virtuosic playing.
Moore, Allen / Ishmael Ali / Bill Harris
Hearsay
(Amalgam)
Unusual textures, unlikely orchestration and unconventional rhythmic directions from the Chicago electroacoustic improv trio of Allen Moore on turntables & records casted with various material, Ishmael Ali on cello, guitar & electronics and Bill Harris on drums & percussion, captured live at Marmalade in Chicago in 2021 for a diverse set of experimental and absorbing improvisations.
Mela, Francisco / Zoh Amba
Causa y Efecto Vol. 1 [VINYL]
(577 Records)
The first volume of powerful free playing and intimate conversation bringing together two New York-based improvisers, Cuban native drummer/percussionist Francisco Mela and Tennessee native reed & wind player Zoh Amba, both sharing a mountain region upbringing that brings a uniquely reflective quality to their playing, fortified by the exploratory NY improv scene.
Parker, Christopher / The Band of Guardian Angels
Soul Food
(Mahakala Music)
An open and free album of modern jazz evoking loft-style collective improvisation but controlled under the compositions of pianist Christopher Parker, in his debut album as a leader with the incredibly talented sextet of Kelley Hurt on vocals, Daniel Carter on winds, Jaimie Branch on trumpet, William Parker on bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums
Ullen, Lisa / Elsa Bergman / Anna Lund
Space
(Relative Pitch)
The debut of this thoroughly modern piano trio from Sweden of pianist Lisa Ullen, bassist Elsa Bergman and drummer Anna Lund, merging traditional and free jazz forms along with influences from contemporary compositional music, approaching their collective music using a diverse set of strategies and techniques that yield a spectrum of captivating conversations.
A Pride of Lions (McPhee / Lazro / Abrams / Seguron / Taylor)
No Questions - No Answers
(RogueArt)
The 3rd meeting of the transatlantic quintet of Joe McPhee on alto & soprano saxophones and pocket trumpet, Daunik Lazro on tenor & baritone saxophones, Joshua Abrams on double bass & guembri, Guillaume Seguron on double bass and Chad Taylor on drums & mbira is heard in this exceptional 2018 concert at the International Jazzfestival Saalfelden in Salzburg, Austria.
Schoenbeck, Sara
Sara Schoenbeck
(Pyroclastic Records)
A document of bassoonist Sara Shoenbeck's collaborations recorded between 2019-2021 in recording studios across North America, showing the inspired curiosity she brings to improvisation through a diverse set of duos performed with Harris Eisenstadt, Nicole Mitchell, Nels Cline, Roscoe Mitchell, Matt Mitchell, Mark Dresser, Wayne Horvitz, Peggy Lee and Robin Holcomb.
Big Bad Brotzmann Quintet
Bambule!
(Euphorium)
An intense concert of collective European Free Jazz in two extended improvisations recorded at naTo in Leipzig, German in 2019 from the quintet of Peter Brotzmann on tenor saxophone, clarinet & tarogato, Oliver Schwerdt on grand piano, percussion & little instruments, John Edwards and John Eckhardt on double bass, and Christian Lillinger on drums & percussion.
Tsahar, Assif / William Parker / Hamid Drake
In Between The Tumbling A Stillness [VINYL]
(Hopscotch Records)
A fierce free jazz concert recorded live at Levontin 7, in Tel Aviv by three players with a long history of collaboration and dynamic trio settings, from Israeli saxophonist formerly based in NYC Assif Tsahar, bassist William Parker and Chicago drummer Hamid Drake, in two extended, energetic and inventive improvisations and a concise closing "Stillness".
Ward, Alex
Gated
(Discus)
A stunning solo album showing the widely diverse interests of UK clarinetist and guitarist Alex Ward, recording in the studio in 10 multi-track pieces using clarinets, saxophones, guitars, keyboards, electric bass and assorted software instruments in a mix of pre-composed and improvised approaches, burning the spectrum from contemplative to aggressively assertive performance.
Leimgruber / Turner / Dorner / da Boff / Flesh
London / Leipzig / Luzern
(Euphorium)
A powerful concert of free and electroacoustic improvisation from Urs Leimgruber on tenor saxophone, Axel Dorner on trumpet, Roger Turner on percussion, and Ra Ra da Boff (aka Oliver Schwerdt) & Ribo Flesh on electric organs, performing live at NuR in Leipzig, Germany in 2015 for two extended performances; see all Axel Dörner-Untitled (Berlin) & Urs Leimgruber-Untitled (Luzern).



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC