View source for Dogon A.D.

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Dogon A.D.
| type       = [[Album]]
| artist     = [[Julius Hemphill]]
| cover      = DogonADcover.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 1972
| recorded   = February 1972; Archway Studios, St. Louis
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Avant-garde jazz]]
| length     =
| label      = [[Freedom Records (jazz label)|Freedom]]
| producer   = Julius Hemphill
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[Coon Bid'ness]]
| next_year  = 1975
}}
'''''Dogon A.D.''''' is an album by saxophonist [[Julius Hemphill]]. It was recorded in February 1972 in St. Louis, Missouri, and was initially released on LP in limited quantities later that year by Hemphill's own Mbari Records, a label he created for the express purpose of issuing his own music.<ref name="looker">{{cite book |last=Looker |first=Benjamin |title=Point from which Creation Begins: The Black Artists' Group of St. Louis |publisher=Missouri Historical Society Press |year=2004 |pages=146–147 }}</ref><ref name="jazztimes" /> The album was reissued on LP by the [[Freedom Records (jazz label)|Freedom]] label in 1977, and was reissued on CD in 2011, with extra liner notes and reproductions of the artwork from both the Mbari and Freedom releases, by International Phonograph.<ref name="jazztimes" /><ref name="aaj" /> A fourth track from the recording session, titled "Hard Blues," and featuring guest saxophonist [[Hamiet Bluiett]], was originally released on Hemphill's 1975 album ''[[Coon Bid'ness]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/album/julius-hemphill/coon-bidness-aka-the-hard-blues |title=Julius Hemphill: Coon Bid'ness |website=Jazz Music Archives |access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref> and was included as a bonus track on the 2011 reissue of ''Dogon A.D.'', bringing together all the music from the session.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/album/julius-hemphill/dogon-ad |title=Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D. |website=Jazz Music Archives |access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref><ref name="ba">{{cite web |url=https://burningambulance.com/2011/10/18/julius-hemphill |title=Julius Hemphill |last=Freeman |first=Phil |date=October 18, 2011 |website=Burning Ambulance |access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref>
The title of the album stems from Hemphill's fascination with the art and culture of the [[Dogon people]] of [[West Africa]]. "A.D." refers to the Dogon's "adapted dance," in which they modified some of their ceremonies with the goal of presenting them to Western visitors.<ref>{{cite book |last=Looker |first=Benjamin |title=Point from which Creation Begins: The Black Artists' Group of St. Louis |publisher=Missouri Historical Society Press |year=2004 |pages=145 }}</ref>
According to author Benjamin Looker, several of the musicians who were scheduled to participate in the recording session, fellow members of the [[Black Artists Group]] (BAG), failed to show up, leaving Hemphill with a quartet. In addition, some of the recording equipment failed to work properly. Despite these challenges, the group managed to produce what Looker called "an almost accidental classic." He wrote: "that February day in the studio, with the malfunctioning equipment and the truant musicians, stands proxy for the individual creative energy released and replenished by BAG. The ''Dogon A.D.'' project turned out to be emblematic of the collective's musical program, embodying both an economic and an aesthetic rejoinder to the era's social and musical challenges."<ref name="looker" />
==Reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/dogon-ad-mw0000867342 |title=Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D. |first=Scott |last=Yanow |website=AllMusic |access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[All About Jazz]]''
| rev2Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="aaj">{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/dogon-ad-julius-hemphill-international-phonograph-inc-review-by-troy-collins |title=Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D. |first=Troy |last=Collins |date=October 25, 2011 |website=All About Jazz |access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Absolute Sound]]''
| rev3Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="abs">{{cite web |url=https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/julius-hemphill-dogon-a-d |title=Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D. |first=Duck |last=Baker |date=February 1, 2012 |website=The Absolute Sound |access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref>
}}
[[AllMusic]] awarded the album 5 stars, and [[Scott Yanow]] stated: "This historic album features four then-unknowns on three lengthy avant-garde explorations that were quite influential... This important music is better to be heard than described".<ref name="Allmusic"/>
Mike Shanley of ''[[Jazz Times]]'' commented: "''Dogon A.D.'' suffers from sonic shortcomings inherent in the original tapes, with distortion and static popping up in a few places. Grin and bear it though, because this music is worth it."<ref name="jazztimes">{{cite web |url=https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/julius-hemphill-dogon-a-d |title=Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D. |first=Mike |last=Shanley |date=December 19, 2011 |website=Jazz Times |access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref>
In a review for ''[[All About Jazz]]'', Troy Collins described the album as an "historic masterpiece," stating that it "is widely considered the missing link between the avant-garde and populist forms such as blues, funk and soul," and writing: "''Dogon A.D.'' is a timeless masterwork culled from the crossroads of African-American music traditions."<ref name="aaj" />
Writing for ''[[The Absolute Sound]]'', [[Duck Baker]] remarked: "Abdul Wadud... could make his axe combine the functions of a jazz bass and a Mississippi Delta guitarist. Drummer Philip Wilson and trumpeter Baikida Carroll fit in perfectly, with the horns blowing long but strongly-rooted solos over Wadud's insistent bass figures and Wilson's spare commentary."<ref name="abs" />
In an article for ''[[NPR]]'', Kevin Whitehead referred to ''Dogon A.D.'' as "one of the startling jazz recordings of the 1970s, a rethinking of possibilities open to the avant-garde," and commented: "Hemphill made other great albums on his own... But none had quite the impact of ''Dogon A.D.'' Almost 40 years later, it's still a revelation."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/11/04/142017187/julius-hemphills-dogon-a-d-still-a-revelation-40-years-on |title=Julius Hemphill's 'Dogon A.D.' Still A Revelation 40 Years On |first=Kevin |last=Whitehead |date=November 4, 2011 |website=NPR Music |access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref>
''Burning Ambulance'''s Phil Freeman stated: "Minor sonic flaws aside, this is a must-own for any fan of jazz's rougher edges. Basically, if you're coming to this site on any kind of regular basis, you need to own this album.<ref name="ba" />
Ed Hazell of ''Point of Departure'' stated: "Few albums have ever announced so unequivocally the arrival of a major new talent; it's simply one of the most vital and exciting jazz albums ever recorded... Not only is the playing at a very high level of virtuosity, but Hemphill's concept of the small jazz band betrays serious consideration of the sound, balance, and role of the instruments." Regarding the 2011 reissue, he wrote: "Hearing the complete session on one disc only emphasizes what a historically important date this session is. The album is simply a masterpiece."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pointofdeparture.org/archives/PoD-37/PoD37MomentsNotice.html |title=Julius Hemphill Quartet: Dogon A.D. |first=Ed |last=Hazell |website=Moment's Notice |access-date=April 17, 2022}}</ref>
==Track listing==
All compositions by Julius Hemphill
# "Dogon A.D." – 14:30
# "Rites" – 8:07
# "The Painter" – 15:00
: '''Bonus track on 2011 CD reissue'''
#<li value="4">"The Hard Blues" – 20:07
==Personnel==
* [[Julius Hemphill]] – alto saxophone, flute
* [[Baikida Carroll|Baikida E.J. Carroll]] – trumpet
* [[Abdul Wadud (musician)|Abdul Wadud]] – cello
* [[Phillip Wilson (drummer)|Philip Wilson]] – drums
* [[Hamiet Bluiett]] – baritone saxophone (track 4)
==Production==
* [[Oliver Sain]] – engineer
* [[Michael Cuscuna]], Steve Backer – production co-ordination
* Dennis Pohl – cover art for Freedom release
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Julius Hemphill}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1972 albums]]
[[Category:Julius Hemphill albums]]
[[Category:Freedom Records albums]]