Western Suite

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Western Suite was released in 1960 on the Atlantic label. The composer and arranger Jimmy Giuffre chose an unusual trio of clarinet, guitar and valve trombone, with Jim Hall and Bob Brookmeyer, without a rhythm section. The first half is a four-part suite inspired by country and folk. The second half consists of a long, abstract version of the big band standard Topsy and a piece by Thelonious Monk, Blue Monk.

Thom Jurek of Allmusic wrote that the score is set up so that every player has to stand on their own feet, with no comfort zone. According to him it swings like West Coast jazz, but is as ambitious as Copland's Billy the Kid. In DownBeat in 1961, Ira Gitler called the interplay of the three remarkable and found lyricism and depth of feeling in it.

Listening

Track list

1. 11st Movement - Pony Express5:56Apple Music ↗
2. 22nd Movement - Apaches4:18Apple Music ↗
3. 33rd Movement - Saturday Night Dance2:57Apple Music ↗
4. 44th Movement - Big Pow Wow4:29Apple Music ↗
5. 5Topsy11:28Apple Music ↗
6. 6Blue Monk8:17Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗