{"title":"Hugh Ragin","description":"\u003cp\u003eHugh Ragin inspiring teacher, creative composer and trumpet virtuoso, has been named \"a trumpeter with very few peers in terms of imagination or technical command\" by jazz biographer Francis Davis in his notes for the \"Live At The Knitting Factory\" recording with Roscoe Mitchell. Ragin has also collaborated with musicians such as David Murray, Anthony Braxton, Dizzy Gillespie, Spencer Barefield, Fred Wesley, Leo Smith, Sun Ra, Maynard Ferguson, D.D. Jackson, Andrew Cyrille and poet Amiri Baraka, on both recorded and live jazz performances that range from bebop and freebop to the most \"out\" of avant-garde improvising.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis compositions have been recorded by David Murray, Roscoe Mitchell, D.D. Jackson and Fred Wesley, and yet despite his success as a performer and composer, Ragin insists on \"being an educator first.\" His life has formed as a compassionate gesture \"to share the knowledge, and bring more people into music.\" For all areas of his teaching, Ragin puts a strong emphasis on the fundamentals. \"I like to give enough material so that students can absorb what's useful, disregard what is unnecessary, and add what is uniquely their own.\" says Ragin. It is like Charlie Parker said, \"first you learn the scales, then you forget them.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing from personal experience, Ragin also says, \"technique includes the knowledge of the instrument as well as knowledge of the language.\" He attributes his astounding control of the trumpet to studying the basics.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"an-afternoon-in-harlem-2","title":"An Afternoon in Harlem","description":"\u003cp\u003eTrumpeter Hugh Ragin came from Ft. Collins, CO, in the late '70s to participate in workshops at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, NY, where he would meet the two musicians he would most prolifically collaborate with over the next two decades: Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell. During those 20 years, he's paid his dues, and the result is this gem of a CD. Ragin effectively utilizes moderate lyricism and a bright, warm, well-rounded tone, stretching phrases and elongating ideas à la Lee Morgan, while just stopping short of the smeary techniques of a Dizzy Gillespie or Don Cherry. He's a free bop player who explores modalities, no-time segments, and impressionistic views of the African-American heritage of his current Harlem home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePianist Craig Taborn and bassist Jaribu Shahid, a couple of Michigan-based musicians, add a great deal to the offerings, Taborn on the melodic side and Shahid with a rock-solid foundation. Bruce Cox plays the drum kit on the majority of this rather lengthy disc (over 70 minutes with no filler), while Andrew Cyrille plays on two tracks. Poet Amiri Baraka and bass clarinetist David Murray appear on the closer \"When Sun Ra Gets Blue,\" while Murray steps forth on the caravan-like \"The Light at the End of the Underground Railroad,\" Cyrille setting the mid-tempo pace. All are perfectly complementary teammates, allowing Ragin to shine up front and utilize all the techniques and good musical common sense he's acquired over the years, while absolutely never playing it safe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere's a lot to love on this recording: the bluesy swing of the title track; the quirky swing-to-free sectionality of \"Braxton's Dues,\" \"The Moors of Spain,\" and \"Wisdom \u0026amp; Overstanding\"; as well as the extended rant of the incendiary Baraka on the near 19-minute tribute to Sun Ra. If you're into bop with avant sensibilities, this is one you'll want in your collection.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e- Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hugh Ragin","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39517687578784,"sku":"0068944012756","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39518412865696,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/97dbfa03-2e6a-43a2-941c-733df3d99e8b17560849684659796055-LARGE_6e87088e-9a30-43bc-af1c-86008d0c0548.jpg?v=1616185225"},{"product_id":"fanfare-fiesta-2","title":"Fanfare \u0026 Fiesta","description":"\u003cp\u003ePerhaps one of the more under-recognized jazz trumpeters of the '90s, Hugh Ragin has spent quality time performing with the late trumpeter Lester Bowie, bassist John Lindberg, multi-woodwind specialists Roscoe Mitchell, David Murray, and others of note. With his second release for Canada-based Justin Time records, the leader surges forward with a four-trumpet front line, also featuring the legendary Clark Terry, who lends his estimable wares on two pieces. The band commences with a Count Basie-style swing groove on the opener, \"Finger Filibuster,\" as pianist Craig Taborn seemingly pursues a Kansas City jazz-style intro, while the trumpet section launches a bold, brash, and altogether irresistible arrangement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis jubilant approach continues on \"Fanfare \u0026amp; Fiesta,\" whereas the horn section engages in a Spanish serenade amid the brass section's punctual statements, that are augmented by some rather slick and apparently difficult to perform unison lines. Basically, Ragin and co. interrogate blues-based themes amid emphatic choruses, torrid soloing, slight injections of free jazz, and climactic opuses. Fanfare \u0026amp; Fiesta is an audacious and refreshing exposition, supplemented by memorable compositions and the ensemble's often dazzling interplay. Recommended!\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e-Glenn Asarita, All Music Guide\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hugh Ragin","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39517728571552,"sku":"0068944015252","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39518419222688,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/d6de6104-1589-471c-9150-67cc95a911f78384590317742039162-LARGE_39f1007e-fb57-4697-923f-cf022dbaa0a2.jpg?v=1616185855"},{"product_id":"feel-the-sunshine-2","title":"Feel the Sunshine","description":"\u003cp\u003eFeel the Sunshine is a diverse, stylistic gem and Hugh Ragin's third release for the Justin Time recording label. It follows Fanfare \u0026amp; Fiesta, which featured Ragin's World Saxophone Quartet-inspired group called the Hugh Ragin Trumpet Ensemble with legendary trumpeter Clark Terry. Here he is backed by an ensemble that features several well-known jazz musicians, including the avant-garde pianist Craig Taborn. Ragin's concept behind Feel the Sunshine is one of peace in the jazz community and the world community. He has penned several originals that reflect these themes, including the 13-minute title track, a lovely rubato piece that opens with the poignant bass clarinet mastery of Assif Tsahar. It is punctuated with Craig Taborn's light piano riffs and followed by the muted trumpet lines of Ragin, whose melodic phrasings suggest a peaceful sunrise gently floating over a blanket of clouds. It is somewhat reminiscent of John Coltrane's beautiful song \"After the Rain.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe jazz standard \"Easy Living\" features Ragin's splendid ballad chops, while his originals \"Pain\" and \"Hugh's Blues\" showcase another side of Hugh Ragin's musical personality and emotions. Even though the titles of these two Ragin originals suggest anything but peace, the songs are sequenced so that the listener's musical moods are quickly returned to the CD's thematic concept. Two very funky songs -- \"Gulf Coast Groove,\" which is updated by the excellent textural accompaniment from Tani Tabbal on djembe, and \"Freedom Jazz Dance\" -- round out the CD's stylistic range. Closing on a short but powerful note appropriately titled \"Say Goodbye,\" Ragin solos on an expressive trumpet that features his adept tone, clarity, and the many sound levels and articulation his trumpet is capable of.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e-Paula Edelstein, All Music Guide\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hugh Ragin","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39517752623264,"sku":"0068944018253","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39518424039584,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/a5dd54c4-bd9f-4038-99e3-dcae84f31f451949169191211886783-LARGE_96e24ba0-c78d-4c10-ae89-dfa2da876186.jpg?v=1616186072"},{"product_id":"revelation-2","title":"Revelation","description":"\u003cp\u003eA crucial element of free jazz that's difficult to explain to someone unfamiliar with and resistant to the concept is the fact that it's not just random honk-blat-phwee. At its best, free jazz doesn't just trash the rule book entirely; it merely expands the parameters of what a group of performers can do, especially with regard to rhythm. This makes the presence of a better than good rhythm section absolutely crucial to any free jazz combo; it's not a coincidence that Ornette Coleman's best records usually had Ed Blackwell or Elvin Jones on the drummer's throne.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough the front line of Hugh Ragin's trumpet and Assif Tsahar's reeds provides most of the excitement on Revelation, such as their remarkable unison riffs on the opening \"Restoration Intensive\" or Tsahar's beautifully controlled extended bass clarinet solo on the nearly 15-minute title track, it's the rhythm section of bassist William Parker and drummer Hamid Drake that underpins songs like the swinging \"Kamal's Gift,\" where Drake embellishes Parker's downright funky bassline with tastefully ornamental cymbal flourishes and accents without ever committing the sin of overplaying. These nine composed pieces are handled with the complete self-assurance of seasoned improvisers, giving Revelation the combination of structure and flexibility that the best free jazz offers.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e-Stewart Mason, All Music Guide\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hugh Ragin","offers":[{"title":"Digital Download","offer_id":39517774512288,"sku":"0068944850259","price":9.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":39518428823712,"sku":"","price":15.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/products\/5ac3294a-a123-4a22-89f5-deb33a2e19fd11254104784430313206-LARGE_26deb2c6-4063-44bb-b45a-75bfd37e9d41.jpg?v=1616186245"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0537\/8477\/2768\/collections\/picArtist205.jpg?v=1616161445","url":"https:\/\/justin-time-records.myshopify.com\/collections\/hugh-ragin.oembed","provider":"Justin Time Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}