Rising Grace

2016 studio album by Wolfgang Muthspiel

Rising Grace

Studio album by

Wolfgang Muthspiel

Released| 28 October 2016
Recorded| January 2016
Studio| Studios la Buissonne
Pernes-les-Fontaines
Genre| Jazz
Length| 1:08:33
Label| ECM 2515
Producer| Manfred Eicher
Wolfgang Muthspiel chronology
| Vienna, World
(2015)  | Rising Grace
(2016)  | Where the River Goes
(2018)

|
|

Rising Grace is a studio album by guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel, recorded in January 2016 and released by ECM in October that year. His quintet contained trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Larry Grenadier, and drummer Brian Blade.[1][2]

## Background

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Muthspiel's first album for ECM was Driftwood in 2014, a trio recording with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Brian Blade.[2] For Rising Grace, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and pianist Brad Mehldau were added.[2]

## Music and recording

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Muthspiel wrote all of the tracks, except for "Wolfgang's Waltz", which was composed by Mehldau.[3] The recordings were made over three days in south-eastern France.[1]

The music does not follow the typical rhythm section plus soloists division, and "while some songs feature a conventional sequence of soloists, it's also common for Muthspiel, Akinmusire and Mehldau to share the soloing space as they weave melodies together."[4]

The album was released by ECM on CD and two LPs on 28 October 2016.[2]

## Reception

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Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
All About Jazz| [5]
AllMusic| [6]
Down Beat| [1]
The Guardian| [3]
Jazz Forum| [7]
Musica Jazz| [8]
Rondo [de]| [9]
RTÉ| [10]
The Times| [11]

Critic John Fordham suggested that "the music mingles echoes of Kenny Wheeler, the classical guitar sound of Ralph Towner and the songlike one of Pat Metheny, plus the quickwittedness of the mid-60s Miles Davis group".[3] The Ottawa Citizen reviewer wrote: "Sonically ravishing and filled with profound, singular music that speaks beautifully of communion, Rising Grace will reward your full attention, over and over."[4]

## Track listing

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All tracks are written by Wolfgang Muthspiel, except where noted

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

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|
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1.| "Rising Grace"|  | 5:56
2.| "Intensive Care""|  | 10:17
3.| "Triad Song"|  | 8:04
4.| "Father and Sun"|  | 8:14
5.| "Wolfgang's Waltz"| Brad Mehldau| 8:01
6.| "Superonny"|  | 6:44
7.| "Boogaloo"|  | 7:33
8.| "Den Wheeler, Den Kenny"|  | 7:50
9.| "Ending Music"|  | 1:23
10.| "Oak"|  | 4:34

## Personnel

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* Wolfgang Muthspiel – guitar
* Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet
* Brad Mehldau – piano
* Larry Grenadier – double bass
* Brian Blade – drums

## References

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1. ^ a b c Kato, Yoshi (December 2016) "Wolfgang Muthspiel – Rising Grace". DownBeat. p. 66.
2. ^ a b c d "Rising Grace". ECM Records. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
3. ^ a b c Fordham, John (3 November 2016) "Wolfgang Muthspiel: Rising Grace Review – Oblique Music That Grows On You". The Guardian.
4. ^ a b Hum, Peter (7 November 2016) "Wolfgang Muthspiel CD reviewed". Ottawa Citizen.
5. ^ "Wolfgang Muthspiel: Rising Grace album review @ All About Jazz".
6. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Wolfgang Muthspiel Rising Grace". Allmusic. allmusic.com. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
7. ^ "Rising Grace | Jazz Forum".
8. ^ "Wolfgang Muthspiel "Rising Grace"". 16 June 2017.
9. ^ "– Rising Grace – Wolfgang Muthspiel".
10. ^ "Wolfgang Muthspiel - Rising Grace". RTÉ.ie. 12 January 2017.
11. ^ Pearson, Chris. "Jazz: Wolfgang Muthspiel: Rising Grace".

## External links

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* Wolfgang Muthspiel – Rising Grace at Discogs (list of releases)

*[No.]: Number