In What Language?
2003 studio album by Vijay Iyer & Mike Ladd
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In What Language? is a collaborative studio album by American jazz pianist Vijay Iyer and American hip-hop musician Mike Ladd. It was released on Pi Recordings in 2003.
- April 30, 2003
- May 2–3, 2003
- Sorcerer Sound, New York
- TME, New York
| In What Language? | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 21, 2003 | |||
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| Length | 68:58 | |||
| Label | Pi | |||
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| Vijay Iyer & Mike Ladd chronology | ||||
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Critical reception
| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [2] |
| Pitchfork | 8.3/10[3] |
| PopMatters | favorable[4] |
Joe Tangari of Pitchfork wrote, "What might make In What Language? truly important ... is that it's focused intently on probing social issues in meaningful ways."[3] Chris Nickson of AllMusic commented, "Written originally to be performed on-stage in a theatrical setting, it transfers well to a purely recorded medium, dense and demanding, but ultimately satisfying, inasmuch as it leaves the listener full of questions and less certain about the world."[1] Lyn Horton of All About Jazz stated, "These composers have instituted a new paradigm for 21st century opera."[5] Anastasia Tsioulcas of Billboard wrote, "With Iyer working as composer and Ladd as librettist, the two weave together elements of jazz, hip-hop and spoken-word art into a new, subversive kind of song cycle."[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Color of My Circumference I" | 4:10 |
| 2. | "The Density of the 19th Century" | 5:15 |
| 3. | "Terminal City" | 1:55 |
| 4. | "Rentals" | 2:44 |
| 5. | "Security" | 3:39 |
| 6. | "DeGaulle" | 6:37 |
| 7. | "TLC" | 2:39 |
| 8. | "Three Lotto Stories" | 4:49 |
| 9. | "The Color of My Circumference II" | 2:09 |
| 10. | "Iraqi Businessman" | 2:42 |
| 11. | "Taking Back The Airplane" | 4:54 |
| 12. | "The Color of My Circumference III" | 2:29 |
| 13. | "Innana After Baghdad" | 2:32 |
| 14. | "In What Language" | 4:05 |
| 15. | "Asylum" | 6:21 |
| 16. | "The Color of My Circumference IV" | 5:51 |
| 17. | "Plastic Bag" | 6:07 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
- Vijay Iyer – piano, keyboards, electronics, production, mixing, liner notes
- Mike Ladd – vocals (1–3, 9, 12, 16, 17), electronics, production, mixing, liner notes, photography
- Latasha N. Nevada Diggs – vocals (2, 5, 8, 13), electronics (13)
- Allison Easter – vocals (2, 6, 11, 13, 15)
- Ajay Naidu – vocals (4, 7, 10, 14)
- Rudresh Mahanthappa – alto saxophone
- Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet
- Dana Leong – cello, flugelhorn, trombone
- Liberty Ellman – guitar
- Stephan Crump – double bass
- Trevor Holder – drums
- Scotty Hard – production