Sam Rivers Ben Street Kresten Osgood - Violet Violets

sarahsitar

Review by Sarah Sitar

Album Review: Violet Violets by Sam Rivers, Ben Street & Kresten Osgood Alright, let’s talk about Violet Violets. If you’re into jazz—like, really into it—you’ve probably stumbled across this gem at some point. Released in 2005 on Stunt Records (shoutout to Denmark for keeping the jazz scene alive), this album is a wild ride through Contemporary Jazz and Free Jazz vibes. It’s got that raw edge where things feel loose but still super intentional, y’know? Like when someone tells a story without planning it out but nails every detail anyway. First off, the lineup is killer: Sam Rivers on tenor saxophone and flute, Ben Street holding down bass duties, and Kresten Osgood smashing drums while wearing multiple hats as producer and mixer. The whole thing feels like a jam session between old friends who trust each other completely. And honestly, that vibe shines through loud and clear. Now, onto the tracks. I gotta call out “Horatio {One For Herbie Nichols}” because, man, this one stuck with me. You can tell they’re tipping their hat to Herbie Nichols here—it’s playful, unpredictable, and full of life. The interplay between Rivers’ sax and Osgood’s drums is just electric. There are moments where it feels like they might spiral off into chaos, but then BAM—they pull it back together like nothing happened. It’s kinda like watching someone walk a tightrope blindfolded and nail it every time. Super satisfying. Another standout is “Nature Calls Part 1.” Don’t get too hung up on the title; it’s not about what you think. This track has this hypnotic groove that sneaks up on you. Ben Street’s basslines are smooth as butter, laying down this steady foundation while Rivers does his thing on the flute. It’s mellow enough to chill to but deep enough to make you stop scrolling Instagram and actually listen. Then there’s this subtle shift halfway through where everything gets darker and more intense—it’s like walking from sunlight into shadow. Gives me goosebumps every time. The production deserves a nod too. Kresten Osgood clearly knows his stuff—he keeps things clean without losing the grittiness that makes free jazz so compelling. Props also go to Alan Ford for recording and Jørgen Vad for mastering. Oh, and whoever took those photos (Christian Winfeld, according to the credits) nailed the cover art. Abstract yet totally fitting. So yeah, Violet Violets isn’t perfect—but maybe that’s why I love it. It doesn’t try too hard to impress anyone. Instead, it lets the music breathe and evolve naturally. By the end of the album, you feel like you’ve been part of something intimate, like overhearing a private conversation between three musical geniuses. Random thought though: Did anyone else notice how many tracks have nature themes? "Nature Calls," "Chianti Blues," even "What A Difference A Day Made"—it’s almost like they were subconsciously channeling Mother Earth or something. Makes you wanna grab your hiking boots and hit the trails after listening. Or maybe that’s just me. Either way, check this album out if you haven’t already. Trust me, it’ll stick with you.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: sam-rivers-ben-street-kresten-osgood-violet-violets.zip
  • MP3 size: 50 mb
  • FLAC size: 491 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
What A Difference A Day Made5:14
I Forgot To Remember5:35
Nature Calls Part 13:16
Horatio {One For Herbie Nichols}5:02
Nature Calls Part 26:51
Invisible4:09
No Time Toulouse4:10
Lace4:07
Fast Response2:08
Chianti Blues3:27

Images

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Catalog Numbers

STUCD 05112

Labels

Stunt Records

Listen online

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Formats

  • CD
  • Album
  • Promo

Companies

RoleCompany
Recorded AtKampo Studios
Mixed AtStudio Menudio
Mastered AtVad Lyd
Designed Atyellow1

Credits

RoleCredit
ArtworkFarshad Farzankia, Paul Wilson
DesignFarshad Farzankia, Paul Wilson
BassBen Street
DrumsKresten Osgood
Mixed ByKresten Osgood
ProducerKresten Osgood
Executive-ProducerSøren Friis
Liner NotesKresten
Mastered ByJørgen Vad
Photography ByChristian Winfeld
Recorded ByAlan Ford
Tenor SaxophoneSam Rivers
FluteSam Rivers

Notes

  • Recorded at Kampo Studios, N.Y. Oct 14 & 15 2004
  • Mixed May 2005 at Studio Menudio
  • Mastered June 2005 at Vadlyd
  • Violet Violets is the second part of a two-CD release. The first one is Purple Violets (STUCD 04162)
  • for promtion only printed on the CD
  • Digisleeve

Barcodes

  • Barcode: 663993051123
  • Barcode (Text): 6 63993 05112 3

About Sam Rivers Ben Street Kresten Osgood

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Samuel Carthorne Rivers (born September 25, 1923, in El Reno, Oklahoma, USA, died December 26, 2011, in Orlando, Florida, USA) was an American jazz musician and composer. His instruments were soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica and piano.

Real Name

    • Samuel Carthorne Rivers

Name Vars

  • Rivers
  • S. Rivers
  • Samuel Rivers

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that the album *Violet Violets* by Sam Rivers, Ben Street, and Kresten Osgood is a hidden gem in the world of jazz? Released in 2005 under Denmark's Stunt Records, it blends Contemporary and Free Jazz styles seamlessly. What’s cool is how collaborative the project was—Kresten Osgood not only played drums but also produced, mixed, and wrote the liner notes. The album even features artwork and design by Farshad Farzankia and Paul Wilson, adding a unique visual touch to its rich sound. Tracks like "No Time Toulouse" and "Nature Calls Part 1 & 2" showcase Sam Rivers’ versatility on tenor saxophone and flute, making this record a true creative effort from start to finish.