# For Players Only

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***For Players Only*** is a live album by violinist and composer [Leroy Jenkins](/source/Leroy_Jenkins_(musician)), his first as a leader. It was recorded in January 1975 at Wollman Auditorium, [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University) in New York City, and was released by JCOA Records later that year. On the album, Jenkins is joined by members of the [Jazz Composer's Orchestra](/source/Jazz_Composer's_Orchestra).[1]

The album presents a single, extended composition by Jenkins that was commissioned by the JCOA in 1974. The work was first presented by the JCOA and [WKCR-FM](/source/WKCR-FM) via four workshop concerts held at Columbia University from January 28–31, 1975.[2]

## Reception

In a review for [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic), Brian Olewnick wrote: "One of seven albums commissioned by the Jazz Composers Orchestra, violinist Leroy Jenkins' *For Players Only* is one of the more loosely organized and, for all its charms, most scattershot of these works... The first half of the composition is arranged in suite-like fashion, with briefly stated themes fleshed out by various small groups within the orchestra... in the second half of this composition... each orchestra member play[s] consecutive, individual solos... Over the course of his career, Jenkins composed a number of knotty pieces, and *For Players Only* ranks right up there."[3]

[Gary Giddins](/source/Gary_Giddins) referred to the album as Jenkins's "daring Jazz Composers Orchestra spectacle".[4] [John Corbett](/source/John_Corbett_(writer)) called the album "one of several very important JCOA documents," and noted that it featured "an incredible eighteen-piece lineup".[5] Barry McRae of *[Jazz Journal](/source/Jazz_Journal)* stated: "*For Players Only* manages to sound like the work of a small group, while retaining all the textural richness of a larger aggregation."[6]

## Track listing

Composed and conducted by Leroy Jenkins.

1. "Part One" – 15:45
1. "Part Two" – 20:35

## Personnel

Order of soloists at the conclusion of Part 2 indicated below.

- [Leroy Jenkins](/source/Leroy_Jenkins_(musician)) – violin (soloist 18)
- Becky Friend – flute, piccolo (soloist 10)
- [Charles Brackeen](/source/Charles_Brackeen) – soprano saxophone (soloist 15)
- [Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre](/source/Kalaparusha_Maurice_McIntyre) – tenor saxophone (soloist 7)
- [Dewey Redman](/source/Dewey_Redman) – clarinet, musette, banshee horn (soloist 3)
- [Anthony Braxton](/source/Anthony_Braxton) – contrabass clarinet (soloist 13)
- [Leo Smith](/source/Wadada_Leo_Smith) – trumpet (soloist 1)
- [Joseph Bowie](/source/Joseph_Bowie) – trombone (soloist 8
- [Sharon Freeman](/source/Sharon_Freeman) – French horn (soloist 5)
- Bill Davis – tuba (soloist 11)
- Romulus Franceschini – synthesizer (soloist 14)
- [James Emery](/source/James_Emery_(musician)) – guitar (soloist 6)
- [Diedre Murray](/source/Diedre_Murray) – cello (soloist 17)
- [Sirone](/source/Sirone_(musician)) – bass (soloist 4)
- [Dave Holland](/source/Dave_Holland_(bassist)) – bass (soloist 16)
- [Jerome Cooper](/source/Jerome_Cooper) – drums, percussion, piano (soloist 12)
- [Charles Shaw](/source/Charles_%22Bobo%22_Shaw) – drums, percussion (soloist 2)
- [Roger Blank](/source/Roger_Blank) – drums, percussion (soloist 9)

## References

1. ["Leroy Jenkins: For Players Only"](https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/album/leroy-jenkins/for-players-only(live)). *Jazz Music Archives*. Retrieved March 8, 2022.

1. Leroy Jenkins (1975). *For Players Only* (liner notes). JCOA Records. 1010.

1. Olewnick, Brian. ["Leroy Jenkins: For Players Only"](https://www.allmusic.com/album/for-players-only-mw0000897066). *AllMusic*. Retrieved March 8, 2022.

1. Giddins, Gary (2004). *Weather Bird: Jazz at the Dawn of its Second Century*. Oxford University Press. p. 478.

1. Corbett, John (2017). *Vinyl Freak : Love Letters to a Dying Medium*. Duke University Press. p. 192.

1. McRae, Barry (July 1976). "Leroy Jenkins: For Players Only". *Jazz Journal*. Vol. 29, no. 7. p. 34.

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