Archive Record

Black Codes (From the Underground)

Wynton Marsalis

Original Liner Notes

AS THE COVER TELLS YOU, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO KNOWING AND WANTING TO KNOW, TO STUDY AND EXPERIENCE, TO REBELLION AGAINST THE BONDAGE OF IGNORANCE. AND NO MAJOR ART CAN SUBSIST ON LUCK OR ON NATURAL TALENT THAT IS NEVER PUT TO THE HEAD-SLAPPING TEST OF DISCIPLINE. SO THERE IS NEVER A POINT AT WHICH LEARNING AND KNOWING DON’T COME TOGETHER FOR THE BEST EXPRESSION OF TALENT. THE OBJECTIVE IS MASTERY, WHICH IS ALWAYS BORN OF SOPHISTICATION. IN JAZZ, MASTERY HAS TO DO WITH AN UNAVOIDABLE VELOCITY BECAUSE THE IMPROVISOR MUST WORK IN A CONTEXT WHERE THE MOMENT IS ALL. WHERE THE RECIPE FOR SHAPE, CONTINUITY, AND FORM HAS TO BE CONCEIVED, MIXED, COOKED, AND SERVED IMMEDIATELY. AS WITH ALL ART, THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU CAN DO. AND WHEN EVERYTHING IS FOCUSED BY INTEGRITY, YOU HEAR THE EMOTION OF IDEALISM BOILING OVER THE TOP, SPANNING MOODS FROM THE BRISTLING TO THE FRAIL TENDERNESS OF A VULNERABLE LOVER’S WHISPER. THIS RECORDING HAS THAT SCOPE OF PASSION, AND IT IS DELIVERED WITH A GUTBUCKET HIGH MINDEDNESS AS INTRIGUING AS IT IS EXCITING, AS INFECTIOUS AS IT IS SOOTHING.

WITH BLACK CODES, WYNTON MARSALIS CLOSES THE DOOR ON HIGH AND LOW RABBLE RANTING ABOUT HIS LACKING A PERSONAL DIRECTION OR THE ABILITY TO EXPRESS HIMSELF WITH ENTRANCING EMOTION. ALREADY, HIS TONE, HIS PHRASING, THE NOTES HE CHOOSES AND THE HARMONIES INCLUDED IN HIS SONGS DETAIL THE IMPOSING GROWTH OF A UNIQUE ARTIST THAT HIS WORK AND THE COLOR OF HIS MUSIC RECALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF SEMINAL FIGURES IN JAZZ ONLY MEANS THAT HE IS PART OF A TRADITION, SINCE THE PERSON WHO REMINDS THE AUDIENCE OF NO ONE HAS SOMEHOW MANAGED TO AVOID THE COLOSSAL PROBLEM OF GIVING PERSONAL CHARACTER TO THE ESSENTIAL PARTICULARS OF AN IDIOM.

HE CALLS THIS ALBUM BLACK CODES (FROM THE UNDERGROUND) AS A REFERENCE TO THE PROHIBITIVE 19TH CENTURY SLAVE LAWS THAT EMPHASIZED DEPRIVING CHATTELS OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THEIR POSITIONS AS TALKING WORK ANIMALS. BUT MARSALIS ISN’T AFTER WHINING OR GUILT-MONGERING. HE IS CONCERNED WITH HOW THOSE LAWS HAVE EVOLVED INTO CONTEMPORARY TRENDS AND CONCEPTIONS OF BOTH SPECIFIC AND UNIVERSAL IMPLICATIONS. MARSALIS SEES THE PRESENT PROBLEM AS ONE IN WHICH TOO MANY HAVE CHOSEN TO BE NO MORE THAN BAROMETERS OF TRENDS, NOT INDIVIDUALS MAKING THEIR OWN WAY AND EXPANDING THE EXPRESSION OF HUMAN INTRICACY AS THEY MOVE. JUST AS BILL COSBY’S TELEVISION SHOW DECRIES THE LIMITATIONS OF BUFFOON HUMOR, OPTING FOR AN ARTISTRY AS DOWN HOME AS IT IS UNIVERSAL, MARSALIS WANTS TO MAKE MUSIC IN KEEPING WITH THE WORLD-SPIRITED JOY AND SERIOUSNESS OF ARMSTRONG, ELLINGTON, PARKER, MONK, COLTRANE, AND THE BEST OF DAVIS, COLEMAN, SHORTER, AND HANCOCK. IN HIS MIND, THE PRESSURE OF COMMERCIALISM IS ANOTHER FORM OF BLACK CODES, ONE THAT REDUCES ALL WILLING MUSICIANS TO HIGHLY PAID BUT LOW-GRADE PLANTATION ENTERTAINERS, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR IDIOM. THE LATE ROLAND KIRK CALLED IT “VOLUNTEER SLAVERY” COMING FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD. MARSALIS IS MORE INTERESTED IN THE STATEMENT THAN THE PAYMENT

(CONTINUED ON INSIDE SLEEVE)

Track Listing

One

Black Codes
For Wee Folks
Delfeayo’s Dilemma

Two

Phryzzinian Man
Aural Oasis
Chambers of Tain

Album Information

Artist: Wynton Marsalis
Catalog Number: FC 40009; 7464-40009-1
Catalog Numbers: FC 40009; 7464-40009-1
Label: Columbia
Source: NO_CATALOG_NUMBER-9irvq
Recording Location: RCA Studio A on January 11th and 14th, 1985
Remix Location: CBS Recording Studios, NYC
Mastering Location: CBS Recording Studios
Recording Format: Recorded digitally using the Sony PCM3324 Digital Recorder
Principal Microphones: Neuman U-67, KM 84, T170i; AKG 414EB P-48.451
Monitor Speakers: B&W 801
Recording Console: MCI
Remix Console: Neve Automated Console
Management: Edward C. Arrendell, Arrendell Management Group, P.O. Box 55398, Washington, D.C. 20040 Special Thanks:

George Butler, Vernon Hammond, Vernon Slaughter, Genevieve Stewart, Billy Banks, Mrs. Dolores Marsalis, Delfeayo Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Steve Epstein, Tim Geelan, Mark Larson, Holly Henley and Donna Kresel

Price Sticker: 23 VG+ $26