Summit Conference (album)


Summit Conference is an album by bassist/composer Reggie Workman. It was recorded on December 5 & 6, 1993 in New York City, and was released by Postcards Records in 1994. On the album, Workman is joined by multi-instrumentalist Sam Rivers, trombonist Julian Priester, pianist Andrew Hill, and drummer Pheeroan akLaff.
Regarding the title of the album, Workman wrote: "we have recorded a unique CD which has the musical mark of my personal experience and direction but in no way stifles or compromises the wonderful musical resources assembled. It is a true summit conference."

Reception

A reviewer for DownBeat magazine awarded the album 4.5 stars and stated: "the virtuoso veterans on Summit Conference create highly structured, tightly focused improvisations that sound ripe, rich, and fully mature--neither fresh nor stale..."
The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings awarded the album 4 stars, and called Summit Conference and Cerebral Caverns "cracking records made by top-flight players," commenting: "the Summit Conference group has a wish-list quality and delivers from the very start."
Writing for AllMusic, David R. Adler awarded the album 4.5 stars, calling it "inspired," and remarked: "By the usual standards of these highly adventurous players, the record is relatively accessible, but it does makes for challenging listening."

Track listing

  1. "Encounter" - 7:45
  2. "Estelle's Theme" - 4:05
  3. "Conversation" - 10:13
  4. "Meteor" - 5:34
  5. "Solace" - 4:19
  6. "Summit Conference" - 8:32
  7. "Breath" - 6:54
  8. "Gone" - 9:21

Personnel

Production