twenty six seconds of the opening solo trumpet track ('Webern'), I realized that I had to completely rethink the possibilities of the trumpet as an improvising instrument. For me, November 1981 counts in the small handful of recordings that gave me truly revelatory listening experiences... November 1981 probably was the most specifically influential upon me as an instrumentalist. While I certainly hope my own playing, particularly since I switched to cornet, does not explicitly copy Dixon's approach, I must acknowledge the way his sound (along with Don Cherry, Wadada Leo Smith, etc) expanded the basic palette and vocabulary available to any modern improvising brass musician... The album effortlessly moves from intense, sound-oriented timbral improvisation to gorgeous, breathtaking lyricism, from bubbling, rhythmic two-bass energy to magical moments of droning, suspended time. It perfectly balances many of the contrasts that Dixon has been dealing with throughout his career. It sounds completely improvised, yet wholly composed; it has moments of shock and beauty, time and no-time, harmony and freedom." Track listing All compositions by Bill Dixon Side A: "November 1981" -10:40 "Penthesilea" -10:10 Side B: "The Second Son" - 5:10 "The Sirens" - 7:05 "Another Quiet Feeling" - 6:48 Side C: Announcement" - 1:13 omitted from CD rerelease "Webern" - 1:24 "Windswept Winterset" -15:42Side D: "Velvet" - 6:44 "Llaattiinnoo Suite" -15:24 Announcement'' - 1:40 omitted from CD rerelease Sides A & B recorded November 16 & 17, 1981, at Barigozzi Studios, Milano, Italy. Sides C & D recorded live November 8, 1981, at Volkshaus, Zürich, Switzerland. The CD rerelease omits the stage announcements and programs the live tracks first. Personnel Bill Dixon - trumpet Mario Pavone, Alan Silva - bass Laurence Cook - drums References 1982 albums Bill Dixon albums Black Saint/Soul Note albums