Barbeque Dog

Barbeque Dog
Studio album by Ronald Shannon Jackson and The Decoding Society
Released	1983
Recorded	March 1983
Studio	Jam Recording, London, England
Genre	Free jazz
Length	38:55
Label	Antilles AN 1015
Producer	David Breskin, Ronald Shannon Jackson
Ronald Shannon Jackson chronology
Mandance (1982) Barbeque Dog (1983) Decode Yourself (1985)

Barbeque Dog is an album by Ronald Shannon Jackson and The Decoding Society, recorded in 1983 for the Antilles label.[1] The album cover was designed by Eiko Ishioka.[2]

In 2020, a remastered edition (subtitled "The Live Album VS The Original") was issued on a Bandcamp page, featuring a "Live Jam" plus versions of "Gossip," "Barbecue Dog," and "Trials of Honest John" alternating with the original versions.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[4]

The AllMusic review by Brian Olewnick stated: "Barbecue Dog doesn't quite reach the explosive heights of its predecessor (Mandance), but is arguably the next best item in Jackson's discography. The band strikes a comfortable balance between the horns and the electric instruments, allowing each to surface when needed, and also complements the required barnburners with more contemplative pieces."[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Ronald Shannon Jackson except where noted.

1. "Barbeque Dog" - 4:21
2. "Trials of an Honest John" - 3:23
3. "Yugo Boy" - 3:09
4. "Say What You Will" (Vernon Reid) - 3:14
5. "Mystery at Dawn" - 4:38
6. "Gossip" - 5:48
7. "When Cherry Trees Bloom in Winter, You Can Smell Last Summer" - 5:28
8. "Harlem Opera" - 9:02

Personnel

• Ronald Shannon Jackson – drums, flute, bass flute, Bertoia sound sculpture, voice
• Henry Scott – trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion, voice
• Zane Massey – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, percussion, voice
• Vernon Reid – electric guitar, steel guitar, Roland guitar synthesizer, banjo, percussion, voice
• Melvin Gibbs – electric bass, percussion, voice
• Reverend Bruce Johnson – fretless electric bass, electric bass, piccolo bass, percussion, voice

References

1. Jazzlists: Antilles 1000 series discography accessed November 2, 2016
2. Ronald Shannon Jackson And The Decoding Society - Barbeque Dog, 1983, retrieved 2023-06-18
3. Olewnick, Brian. Barbecue Dog – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
4. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 110. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.