Escalator over the Hill
Encyclopedia
Escalator over the Hill is mostly referred to as a jazz
opera
, but it was released as a "chronotransduction" with "words by Paul Haines
, adaptation and music by Carla Bley
, production and coordination by Michael Mantler
", performed by the Jazz Composer's Orchestra
.
box which also contained a booklet with lyrics, photos and profiles of the musicians. Side six of the original LPs ended in a locked groove, the final track "...And It's Again" continuing infinitely on manual record players. (For the CD reissue, the hum is allowed to play for almost 20 minutes before slowly fading out.)
In 1997, a live version of Escalator over the Hill, re-orchestrated by Jeff Friedman
, was performed for the first time in Cologne, Germany
. In 1998, "Escalator" toured Europe. Another live performance took place in May 2006 in Essen, Germany
.
The musicians involved in the original recording play in various combinations, covering a wide range of musical genres, from Kurt Weill
's theater music, to free jazz, rock and Indian music. Writer Stuart Broomer considers this to be a summing up "much of the creative energy that was loose between 1968 and 1972".
Viva
acts as narrator. Jack Bruce
also appears on bass and vocals (due to the album's long production, he also appeared on Frank Zappa
's album Apostrophe, playing bass on the title track). Among the vocalists is a young (and still relatively unknown) Linda Ronstadt
, in addition to Jeanne Lee
, Paul Jones
, Carla Bley
, Don Preston
, Sheila Jordan
, and Bley's and Mantler's then-4-year-old daughter Karen Mantler
.
In 2006, Paul Haines' daughter, Canadian musician Emily Haines
, adapted the Escalator over the Hill cover art for her own first widely-distributed album under her own name, Knives Don't Have Your Back
.
Musicians (alphabetical)
Musicians (chronotransductional)
Orchestra (& Hotel Lobby Band)
Jack's Traveling Band
Desert Band
Original Hotel Amateur Band
Phantom Music
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, but it was released as a "chronotransduction" with "words by Paul Haines
Paul Haines (poet)
Paul Haines was a poet and jazz lyricist. Born in Vassar, Michigan, Haines eventually settled in Canada, after spending time in Europe, India, New York City, as well as a long stint as a French Teacher at Fenelon Falls Secondary School, in Ontario, Canada.Haines's best-known work is Escalator over...
, adaptation and music by Carla Bley
Carla Bley
Carla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
, production and coordination by Michael Mantler
Michael Mantler
Michael Mantler is a composer and trumpeter in new jazz and contemporary music.-Career: United States:Mantler was born in Vienna, Austria...
", performed by the Jazz Composer's Orchestra
Jazz Composer's Orchestra
Jazz Composer's Orchestra was an American jazz group founded in 1965, to further avant-garde jazz in New York. Carla Bley and Michael Mantler were important in its organization and style....
.
History
Escalator over the Hill is more than two hours long and was recorded in three years, 1968 to 1971. It was originally released as a triple LPGramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
box which also contained a booklet with lyrics, photos and profiles of the musicians. Side six of the original LPs ended in a locked groove, the final track "...And It's Again" continuing infinitely on manual record players. (For the CD reissue, the hum is allowed to play for almost 20 minutes before slowly fading out.)
In 1997, a live version of Escalator over the Hill, re-orchestrated by Jeff Friedman
Jeff Friedman
Jeff Friedman is an American poet and professor. He is the author of five books of poetry, Black Threads, , Taking Down the Angel , Scattering the Ashes and The Record-Breaking Heat Wave Jeff Friedman is an American poet and professor. He is the author of five books of poetry, Black Threads,...
, was performed for the first time in Cologne, Germany
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. In 1998, "Escalator" toured Europe. Another live performance took place in May 2006 in Essen, Germany
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
.
The musicians involved in the original recording play in various combinations, covering a wide range of musical genres, from Kurt Weill
Kurt Weill
Kurt Julian Weill was a German-Jewish composer, active from the 1920s, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fruitful collaborations with Bertolt Brecht...
's theater music, to free jazz, rock and Indian music. Writer Stuart Broomer considers this to be a summing up "much of the creative energy that was loose between 1968 and 1972".
Viva
Viva (Warhol superstar)
Viva is an American actress, writer and a former Warhol superstar.-Career:She was born Janet Susan Mary Hoffmann in Syracuse, New York. She was given the name Viva by Andy Warhol before the release of her first film but later used her married last name . She appeared in several of Warhol's films...
acts as narrator. Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
also appears on bass and vocals (due to the album's long production, he also appeared on Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
's album Apostrophe, playing bass on the title track). Among the vocalists is a young (and still relatively unknown) Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
, in addition to Jeanne Lee
Jeanne Lee
Jeanne Lee was an American jazz singer, poet and composer. Best known for a wide range of vocal styles she mastered, Lee collaborated with numerous distinguished composers and performers which included Gunter Hampel, Ran Blake, Carla Bley, Anthony Braxton, Marion Brown, and many...
, Paul Jones
Paul Jones (singer)
Paul Jones is an English singer, actor, harmonica player, and radio personality and television presenter.-Career:As P. P...
, Carla Bley
Carla Bley
Carla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
, Don Preston
Don Preston
Donald Ward Preston also known as Dom DeWilde or Biff Debrie born September 21, 1932 in Flint, Michigan. Preston is an American jazz and rock and roll musician.-Biography:Preston was born into a family of musicians and began studying music at an early age...
, Sheila Jordan
Sheila Jordan
Sheila Jordan is an American jazz singer and songwriter. Jordan has recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to a notable solo career....
, and Bley's and Mantler's then-4-year-old daughter Karen Mantler
Karen Mantler
Karen Mantler is an American jazz musician, harmonca player, singer and composer. She is the daughter of Carla Bley and Michael Mantler....
.
In 2006, Paul Haines' daughter, Canadian musician Emily Haines
Emily Haines
Emily Haines is a Canadian indie rock singer-songwriter. She is the lead singer and keyboardist of the band Metric and a member of Broken Social Scene. As a solo artist, she performed with her own name and under the alias Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton...
, adapted the Escalator over the Hill cover art for her own first widely-distributed album under her own name, Knives Don't Have Your Back
Knives Don't Have Your Back
Knives Don't Have Your Back is the debut studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Emily Haines . The album was released in September 2006 on Last Gang Records. It debuted at 28 in Canada and has sold 20,000 copies there...
.
Track listing
Side one
Side two
Side three
|
Side four
Side five
Side six
|
Personnel
Principal Cast- Jack, Parrot: Jack BruceJack BruceJohn Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
- Leader, Mutant, Voice, Desert Women: Carla Bley
- Sand Shepherd: Don CherryDon Cherry (jazz)Donald Eugene Cherry was an innovative African-American jazz cornetist whose career began with a long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman. He went on to live in many parts of the world and work with a wide variety of musicians.-Biography:Cherry was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and...
- Ginger: Linda RonstadtLinda RonstadtLinda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
- Ginger II: Jeanne LeeJeanne LeeJeanne Lee was an American jazz singer, poet and composer. Best known for a wide range of vocal styles she mastered, Lee collaborated with numerous distinguished composers and performers which included Gunter Hampel, Ran Blake, Carla Bley, Anthony Braxton, Marion Brown, and many...
- David: Paul JonesPaul Jones (singer)Paul Jones is an English singer, actor, harmonica player, and radio personality and television presenter.-Career:As P. P...
- Doctor, Lion: Don PrestonDon PrestonDonald Ward Preston also known as Dom DeWilde or Biff Debrie born September 21, 1932 in Flint, Michigan. Preston is an American jazz and rock and roll musician.-Biography:Preston was born into a family of musicians and began studying music at an early age...
- Viva: VivaViva (Warhol superstar)Viva is an American actress, writer and a former Warhol superstar.-Career:She was born Janet Susan Mary Hoffmann in Syracuse, New York. She was given the name Viva by Andy Warhol before the release of her first film but later used her married last name . She appeared in several of Warhol's films...
- Cecil Clark: Tod Papageorge
- His Friends: Charlie HadenCharlie HadenCharles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
, Steve Ferguson - Calliope Bill: Bill Leonard
- Roomer: Bill Stewart
- Ancient Roomer: Karen MantlerKaren MantlerKaren Mantler is an American jazz musician, harmonca player, singer and composer. She is the daughter of Carla Bley and Michael Mantler....
- Loudspeaker: Roswell RuddRoswell RuddRoswell Rudd is a Grammy Award-nominated American jazz trombonist and composer....
- Used Woman: Sheila JordanSheila JordanSheila Jordan is an American jazz singer and songwriter. Jordan has recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to a notable solo career....
- Operasinger: Rosalind Hupp
- Nurse: Jane Blackstone
- Yodelling Ventriloquist: Howard JohnsonHoward Johnson (jazz musician)Howard Lewis Johnson in Montgomery, Alabama, is an American jazz musician known mainly for his work on tuba and baritone saxophone, although he also plays the bass clarinet, trumpet and other reed instruments....
- Therapist: Timothy Marquand
- Dad: Perry RobinsonPerry RobinsonPerry Morris Robinson is an American jazz clarinetist and composer. He is the son of the noted composer Earl Robinson. -Biography:...
- Phantoms, Multiple Public Members, Hotelpeople, Women, Men, Flies, Bullfrogs, Mindsweepers, Speakers, Blindman:
Musicians (alphabetical)
- Gato BarbieriGato BarbieriLeandro Barbieri , better known as Gato Barbieri , is an Argentinean jazz tenor saxophonist and composer who rose to fame during the free jazz movement in the 1960s and from his latin jazz recordings in the 1970s.-Biography:Born to a family of musicians, Barbieri began playing music...
- tenor saxophone - Souren Baronian - clarinet
- Karl BergerKarl BergerKarl Hanns Berger is a musicologist with a PhD in Music Sociology, jazz composer, jazz vibraphone and piano player.-Biography:...
- vibraphone - Carla BleyCarla BleyCarla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
- organ, celeste, chimes, calliope, piano - Sam BrownSam Brown (guitarist)-History:Sam T. Brown's playing style was unusual in that he performed in a generally jazz-rock format, while performing in Keith Jarrett's ensembles that sometimes veered close to a free jazz style...
- guitar - Jack BruceJack BruceJohn Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
- bass, vocal - John Buckingham - tuba
- Sam Burtis - trombone
- Bob CarlisleBob CarlisleBob Carlisle is a Grammy Award and Dove Award-winning American musician who performs Christian music. He performed with several bands, most notably Allies and Billy Thermal, before launching a solo career...
- French horn - Don CherryDon Cherry (jazz)Donald Eugene Cherry was an innovative African-American jazz cornetist whose career began with a long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman. He went on to live in many parts of the world and work with a wide variety of musicians.-Biography:Cherry was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and...
- trumpet - Roger DawsonRoger DawsonRoger Dawson is a jazz percussionist, conga drummer, bandleader and jazz composer. He was a leading jazz and salsa disc jockey in the USA and acknowledged as at the forefront of New York's Salsa music explosion of the seventies and early eighties...
- congas - Sharon FreemanSharon FreemanSharon Freeman is a jazz pianist and French hornist. She also writes musical arrangements.Freeman played French horn for the jazz opera Escalator over the Hill, Gil Evans's 1973 album Svengali, and in 1983 she worked on a piece of jazz Christmas music. Since 1982 she is a member of Charlie Haden's...
- French horn - Charlie HadenCharlie HadenCharles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
- bass - Peggy Imig - clarinet
- Jack Jeffers - bass trombone
- Leroy Jenkins - violin
- Howard JohnsonHoward Johnson (jazz musician)Howard Lewis Johnson in Montgomery, Alabama, is an American jazz musician known mainly for his work on tuba and baritone saxophone, although he also plays the bass clarinet, trumpet and other reed instruments....
- tuba - Sheila JordanSheila JordanSheila Jordan is an American jazz singer and songwriter. Jordan has recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to a notable solo career....
- vocal - Jimmy KnepperJimmy KnepperJames M. Knepper was an American jazz trombonist.He was a good friend and arranging/transcribing partner of bassist and composer Charles Mingus. Knepper was twice on the receiving end of Mingus' legendary temper...
- trombone - Jeanne LeeJeanne LeeJeanne Lee was an American jazz singer, poet and composer. Best known for a wide range of vocal styles she mastered, Lee collaborated with numerous distinguished composers and performers which included Gunter Hampel, Ran Blake, Carla Bley, Anthony Braxton, Marion Brown, and many...
- vocal - Jimmy LyonsJimmy LyonsJimmy Lyons was an alto saxophone player. He is best known for his long tenure in the Cecil Taylor Unit.-Biography:...
- alto saxophone - Michael MantlerMichael MantlerMichael Mantler is a composer and trumpeter in new jazz and contemporary music.-Career: United States:Mantler was born in Vienna, Austria...
- prepared piano, trumpet, valve trombone - Ron McClureRon McClureRon McClure , a bassist, has played in hard bop, jazz-rock, and free and bebop sessions and bands.He started on piano at age five, and later played accordion and bass...
- bass - John McLaughlinJohn McLaughlin (musician)John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
- guitar - Bill Morimando - orchestra bells, celeste
- Paul MotianPaul MotianStephen Paul Motian was an American jazz drummer, percussionist and composer of Armenian extraction.He first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans, and later led several groups...
- drums, dumbec - Nancy Newton - viola
- Don PrestonDon PrestonDonald Ward Preston also known as Dom DeWilde or Biff Debrie born September 21, 1932 in Flint, Michigan. Preston is an American jazz and rock and roll musician.-Biography:Preston was born into a family of musicians and began studying music at an early age...
- Moog synthesizer - Enrico RavaEnrico RavaEnrico Rava , is a prolific jazz trumpeter and arguably one of the best known Italian jazz musicians. He originally played trombone, changing to the trumpet after hearing Miles Davis. His first commercial work was as a member of Gato Barbieri's Italian quintet in the mid-1960s; in the late 1960s...
- trumpet - Perry RobinsonPerry RobinsonPerry Morris Robinson is an American jazz clarinetist and composer. He is the son of the noted composer Earl Robinson. -Biography:...
- clarinet - Linda RonstadtLinda RonstadtLinda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
- vocal - Roswell RuddRoswell RuddRoswell Rudd is a Grammy Award-nominated American jazz trombonist and composer....
- trombone - Calo Scott - cello
- Michael SnowMichael SnowMichael Snow, CC is a Canadian artist working in painting, sculpture, video, films, photography, holography, drawing, books and music.-Life:...
- trumpet - Chris WoodsChris Woods (musician)Chris Woods was an American jazz alto saxophonist.Woods played locally in Memphis early in his career before moving to St. Louis to play with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra and trumpeter George Hudson. He then joined Tommy Dean's combo, recording with them for Town and Country, Miracle, and States...
- baritone saxophone - Richard Youngstein - bass
Musicians (chronotransductional)
Orchestra (& Hotel Lobby Band)
- Carla Bley (piano)
- Jimmy Lyons (alto saxophone)
- Gato Barbieri (tenor saxophone)
- Chris Woods (baritone saxophone)
- Michael Mantler, Enrico Rava (trumpet)
- Roswell Rudd, Sam Burtis, Jimmy Knepper (trombone)
- Jack Jeffers (bass trombone)
- Bob Carlisle, Sharon Freeman (French horn)
- John Buckingham (tuba)
- Nancy Newton (viola)
- Karl Berger (vibraphone)
- Charlie Haden (bass)
- Paul Motian (drums)
- Roger Dawson (congas)
- Bill Morimando (orchestra bells, celeste).
Jack's Traveling Band
- Carla Bley (organ)
- John McLaughlin (guitar)
- Jack Bruce (bass)
- Paul Motian (drums)
Desert Band
- Carla Bley (organ)
- Don Cherry (trumpet)
- Souren Baronia (clarinet)
- Leroy Jenkins (violin)
- Calo Scott (cello)
- Sam Brown (guitar)
- Ron McClure (bass)
- Paul Motian (dumbec)
Original Hotel Amateur Band
- Carla Bley (piano)
- Michael Snow (trumpet)
- Michael Mantler (valve trombone)
- Howard Johnson (tuba)
- Perry Robinson, Peggy Imig (clarinet)
- Nancy Newton (viola)
- Richard Youngstein (bass)
- Paul Motian (drums)
Phantom Music
- Carla Bley (organ, celeste, chimes, calliope)
- Michael Mantler (prepared piano)
- Don Preston (Moog synthesizer)
Awards
- Jazz Album of the Year 1972 by a Melody MakerMelody MakerMelody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
Readers Poll - French Grand Prix du Disque in 1973
External links
- Karen Mantler Biography at www.wattxtrawatt.com - the Official Carla Bley Web Site
- Jazz Composers Orchestra: Escalator Over The Hill at www.jazzdiscography.com
- Accomplishing Escalator Over the Hill by Carla Bley. Written in 1972 shortly after the release of the Escalator
- The Jazz Composer's Orchestra Information Page
- film clips @ The John McLaughlin Archives
- Album booklet