Anthem is an album by Steve Lacy

Steve Lacy

Steve Lacy , born Steven Norman Lackritz in New York City, was a jazz saxophonist and composer recognized as one of the important players of soprano saxophone....

 released on the Arista Novus label in 1990. It features five of Lacy's compositions (and one by Jean-Jacques Avenel) with texts by Osip Mandelstam

Osip Mandelstam

Osip Emilyevich Mandelstam was a Russian poet and essayist who lived in Russia during and after its revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union. He was one of the foremost members of the Acmeist school of poets...

 and Mary Frazee performed by Lacy, Bobby Few

Bobby Few

Bobby Few is an American jazz pianist.Few was raised in Shaker Heights, a neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, and studied classical piano. He knew Albert Ayler as a youth, and the pair studied jazz and played together in high school...

, Steve Potts

Steve Potts (jazz musician)

Steve Potts is an American jazz saxophonist, younger cousin of tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate.Potts studied architecture in Los Angeles and took lessons by Charles Lloyd...

, Jean-Jacques Avenel, John Betsh, Sam Kelly, Glenn Ferris

Glenn Ferris

Glenn Ferris is a jazz trombonist who has also worked in other fields. Outside of jazz he has played for Frank Zappa, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Duran Duran, and others....

, La Velle and Irene Aebi.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Stephen Cook awarded the album 4.5 stars stating "With more composition and performance highlights than most jazz albums ever muster, Anthem is essential listening for Lacy fans and all other adventurous listeners out there.".

Track listing

1. "Number One" - 9:01
2. "Prayer" - 9:21
3. "J. J.'s Jam" (Avenel) - 6:53
4. "Prelude And Anthem" (text by Osip Mandelstam
   Osip Mandelstam
   Osip Emilyevich Mandelstam was a Russian poet and essayist who lived in Russia during and after its revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union. He was one of the foremost members of the Acmeist school of poets...
   
   ) - 15:48
5. "The Mantle" (text by Mary Frazee) - 9:22
6. "The Rent" - 7:17

All compositions by Steve Lacy except as indicated

• Recorded June 27–28, 1989 at Family Sound Studios, Paris

Personnel

• Steve Lacy
  Steve Lacy
  Steve Lacy , born Steven Norman Lackritz in New York City, was a jazz saxophonist and composer recognized as one of the important players of soprano saxophone....
  
   - soprano saxophone
• Bobby Few
  Bobby Few
  Bobby Few is an American jazz pianist.Few was raised in Shaker Heights, a neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, and studied classical piano. He knew Albert Ayler as a youth, and the pair studied jazz and played together in high school...
  
   - piano
• Steve Potts
  Steve Potts (jazz musician)
  Steve Potts is an American jazz saxophonist, younger cousin of tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate.Potts studied architecture in Los Angeles and took lessons by Charles Lloyd...
  
   - alto and soprano saxophones
• Jean-Jacques Avenel - bass
• John Betsch
  John Betsch
  John Betsch is an American jazz drummer.Betsch began on percussion at age nine, and attended Fisk University, Berklee College of Music and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. After playing in organ trios, he released an album as a leader, Earth Blossom, in 1975...
  
   - drums
• La Velle - vocals
• Irene Aebi - vocals
• Sam Kelly - percussion
• Glenn Ferris
  Glenn Ferris
  Glenn Ferris is a jazz trombonist who has also worked in other fields. Outside of jazz he has played for Frank Zappa, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Duran Duran, and others....
  
  - trombone