Namesake (album)

Namesake is an album led by trumpeter Dennis González which was recorded in 1987 and released on the Swedish Silkheart label.^[1][2]

Namesake
Studio album by Dennis González New Dallas Sextet
Released	1987
Recorded	February 13, 1987
Studio	Omega Audio, Dallas, TX
Genre	Jazz
Length	57:50
Label	Silkheart SHLP 106
Producer	Dennis González
Dennis González chronology
Stefan (1987) Namesake (1987) Catechism (1987)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[4]

Comparing it with González previous album, The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes "Namesake only suffers by comparison, but it shouldn't be missed".^[4] In his review for AllMusic, Brian Olewnick states "Namesake doesn't really happen, and it's hard to pinpoint exactly why – the all-Gonzalez-originals are essentially heads to set up solos rather than fully fleshed-out ensemble passages. And while those solos are almost all strong, the music resolutely remains less than the sum of the parts".^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Dennis González except where noted.

1. "Namesake" – 15:46
2. "The Separation of Stones" – 9:15
3. "Johnny – Johnny" – 8:14 Bonus track on CD
4. "Hamba Khale Qhawe" – 1:35
5. "Four Pigs and a Bird's Nest" (James Sharper, Dennis González) – 5:37
6. "Hymn for Mbizo" – 11:53
7. "Good Friends" – 5:30

Personnel

• Dennis González – trumpet, pocket trumpet, flugelhorn, pao de chuva, Pakistani bells, kalimba, vocals
• Ahmed Abdullah – trumpet, fluegelhorn, balafon
• Douglas Ewart – bass clarinet, alto saxophone
• Charles Brackeen – tenor saxophone, congas
• Malachi Favors – bass, vocals
• Alvin Fielder – drums, percussion

References

1. Silkheart Records catalog, accessed February 11, 2017
2. Jazzlists: Silkheart records discography, accessed February 11, 2017
3. Olewnick, Brian. Stefan – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
4. Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (1996). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (3rd ed.). London: Penguin. p. 508. ISBN 0-14-051368-X.