Lake Biwa is a studio album by American jazz trumpeter and composer Wadada Leo Smith released on John Zorn's Tzadik label in 2004.[1][2] The album contains four pieces composed between 2000 and 2004.

Lake Biwa
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 2004
StudioAvatar, New York City
GenreAvant-garde jazz
Length69:34
LabelTzadik TZ 8008
ProducerWadada Leo Smith
Wadada Leo Smith chronology
Kabell Years: 1971-1979
(2004)
Lake Biwa
(2004)
Saturn, Conjunct the Grand Canyon in a Sweet Embrace
(2004)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [3]
Penguin Guide to Jazz    [4]
Tom HullB+[5]

The Allmusic review states: "Lake Biwa is a delight, and is full of invention. The players here perform the work's written and improvised sections with a determined sense of attack that also includes warmth, humor, and the desire for collective discovery".[3] Writing for All About Jazz, Kurt Gottschalk commented "Over four pieces ranging from 10 to 25 minutes, the ensemble truly is an orchestra. When called upon to step forward, the voices of Ribot and Zorn especially are unmistakable. But the rest of the time, the group breathes together like an orchestra rather than a session group group reading charts. The compositions themselves are both serious and exciting and violinist Jennifer Choi (a regular performer of Zorn's compositions) especially shines".[6]

Track listing

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All compositions by Wadada Leo Smith.

  1. "Lake Biwa; A Fullmoon Purewater Gold" - 11:14
  2. "Sinai's Enclosed Garden of the Truth" - 23:50
  3. "Diamondback Serpent in a House Full of Water and Still Rising" - 16:00
  4. "Africana World" - 18:30

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ Tzadik catalogue, accessed May 27, 2015
  2. ^ "Wadada Leo Smith discography". Jazz Lists. jazzlists.com. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  3. ^ a b Jurek, Thom. Lake Biwa – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  4. ^ "Penguin Guide to Jazz: 4-Star Records in 8th Edition". Tom Hull. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Tom Hull: Grade List: Wadada Leo Smith". Tom Hull. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  6. ^ Gottshalk, K., All About Jazz Review, May 28, 2006.