Sam Rivers / Celebration

Sam Rivers is a major figure in contemporary American music, an authentic jazz original. "Celebration" was recorded live at The Jazz Bakery (Culver City, CA) in September, 2003 to celebrate Sam's 80th birthday. Each member of the Sam Rivers Trio (Doug Matthews and Anthony Cole) is fluent on multiple instruments which makes for a broad canvas for Rivers to paint his compositions. The music is pure Rivers - abstract and angular, sometimes funky and sometimes swinging. The musical interplay between Rivers, Matthews and Cole has grown over time and the results are evident with these performances. With such a road-tested and musically telepathic band, this live recording is cause for real celebration.