# Spirit Music

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_Music
> Source revision: 1291257903
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{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Spirit Music
| type       = live
| artist     = [Marilyn Crispell](/source/Marilyn_Crispell)
| cover      = Marilyn_Crispell_Spirit_Music.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = 1983
| recorded   = May 15, 1981, and January 13, 1982
| venue      = New York University and [Soundscape](/source/Soundscape_Presents), New York City
| studio     = 
| genre      = [Free Jazz](/source/Free_Jazz)
| length     = 
| label      = [Cadence Jazz Records](/source/Cadence_Jazz_Records)<br><small>CJR 1015</small>
| producer   = [Bob Rusch](/source/Bob_Rusch)
| chronology = 
| prev_title = 
| prev_year  = 
| next_title = 
| next_year  = 
}}
'''''Spirit Music''''' is a live album by pianist [Marilyn Crispell](/source/Marilyn_Crispell). It was recorded at New York University and [Soundscape](/source/Soundscape_Presents) in New York City in May 1981 and January 1982, and was released in 1983 by [Cadence Jazz Records](/source/Cadence_Jazz_Records). On the album, Crispell is joined by violinist [Billy Bang](/source/Billy_Bang), guitarist  Wes Brown, and drummer [John Betsch](/source/John_Betsch).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/album/marilyn-crispell(united-states)/spirit-music(live) |title=Marilyn Crispell: Spirit Music |website=Jazz Music Archives |access-date=March 5, 2022}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)
| rev1Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite book | editor-first1=Michael |editor-last1=Erlewine | editor-first2=Vladimir |editor-last2=Bogdanov |editor-first3=Chris |editor-last3=Woodstra |editor-first4=Scott |editor-last4=Yanow |title=All Music Guide to Jazz |edition=2nd |publisher=Miller Freeman | year=1996|pages=178–179}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[The Penguin Guide to Jazz](/source/The_Penguin_Guide_to_Jazz)''
| rev2Score = {{rating|3|4}}<ref name="penguin">{{cite book | last1=Cook |first1=Richard |last2=Morton |first2=Brian | title=The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP and Cassette | publisher=[Penguin Books](/source/Penguin_Books) | year=1992 | pages=247 }}</ref>
}}
In a review for [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic), Scott Yanow wrote: "Marilyn Crispell is one of the most significant piano voices of the avant-garde... This Cadence release... finds her leading her own trio... On one of the four lengthy improvisations heard on this set, guitarist Wes Brown makes the band a quartet. These stirring performances serve as a fine introduction to the passionate music of Marilyn Crispell."<ref name="allmusic" />

The authors of the ''[Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings](/source/Penguin_Guide_to_Jazz_Recordings)'' stated: "'Spirit Music' is dedicated to Coltrane and represents some sort of coming-to-terms with her 'overwhelming' introduction to ''A Love Supreme''. It is a powerful piece, well recorded... and dominates an album of long tracks. Wes Brown's guitar fits in surprisingly well, seldom clashing with Bang's furiously scrabbled violin."<ref name="penguin" />

[Tom Moon](/source/Tom_Moon), in his book ''[1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die](/source/1%2C000_Recordings_to_Hear_Before_You_Die)'', listed ''Spirit Music'' as a suggested follow-up to [Cecil Taylor](/source/Cecil_Taylor)'s ''[Silent Tongues](/source/Silent_Tongues)''.<ref>{{cite book | last =Moon | first =Tom | title =1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die | publisher =Workman Publishing | year = 2008 | pages=765 }}</ref>

==Track listing==
All compositions by Marilyn Crispell.

# "Rounds" – 9:00
# "For Atsuko" – 11:11
# "Stoic" – 12:55
# "Spirit Music" – 12:21

* Tracks 1–3 recorded on January 13, 1982, at [Soundscape](/source/Soundscape_Presents) in New York City. Track 4 recorded on May 15, 1981, at New York University in New York City.

== Personnel ==
* [Marilyn Crispell](/source/Marilyn_Crispell) – piano
* [Billy Bang](/source/Billy_Bang) – violin
* Wes Brown – guitar (track 4)
* [John Betsch](/source/John_Betsch) – drums

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Marilyn Crispell}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:1983 live albums
Category:Marilyn Crispell live albums
Category:Cadence Jazz Records live albums

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Spirit Music](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_Music) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_Music?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.