Relativity (Walt Dickerson album)

Relativity is an album led by vibraphonist and composer Walt Dickerson which was recorded in 1962 and released on the New Jazz label.^[1][2]

Relativity
Studio album by Walt Dickerson
Released	1962
Recorded	January 16, 1962
Studio	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Genre	Jazz
Length	34:24
Label	New Jazz NJLP 8275
Producer	Esmond Edwards
Walt Dickerson chronology
A Sense of Direction (1961) Relativity (1962) To My Queen (1962)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
Down Beat	[4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[5]

The Allmusic reviewer stated: "If there is a flaw with Relativity, it's that it doesn't have quite the same spark of revelation as Dickerson's first two albums; critics were beginning to identify his brief note clusters and stop-start phrasing as stylistic trademarks, and aside from the duet with Abdul-Malik, the record doesn't really push Dickerson's sound into new territory. Still, taken independently of context, Relativity is another fine recording and one of the better pieces of Dickerson's underappreciated legacy".^[3] Down Beat reviewer Don DeMichael wrote: "This third Dickerson album, like the first two, offers excitement, emotional experience, and music of high quality. ...this is a very good album and is heartily recommended for the sometime electrifying emotion Dickerson is able to generate."^[6]

Track listing

All compositions by Walt Dickerson except where noted

1. "Relativity" - 5:20
2. "It Ain't Necessarily So" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) - 4:25
3. "I Can't Get Started" (Vernon Duke, I. Gershwin) - 5:05
4. "Steppin' Out" - 2:05
5. "The Unknown" - 3:59
6. "Sugar Lump" - 6:05
7. "Autumn in New York" (Duke) - 7:25

Personnel

• Walt Dickerson – vibraphone
• Austin Crowe – piano
• Ahmed Abdul-Malik – bass
• Andrew Cyrille – drums