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Birdhouse is an album by the American jazz saxophonist Fred Anderson, released in 1996 on Okka Disk.

Birdhouse
Studio album by Fred Anderson
Released	1996
Recorded	February 20, 1995 (track 4 April 7, 1994)
Studio	Sparrow Sound Design, Chicago
Genre	Jazz
Length	62:59
Label	Okka Disk
Producer	Fred Anderson , Bruno Johnson
Fred Anderson chronology
Destiny (1995) Birdhouse (1996) Fred Chicago Chamber Music (1997)

The title refers to Anderson's Chicago club that closed in 1978. Three pieces are played by a quartet with pianist Jim Baker and long-time collaborators bassist Harrison Bankhead and drummer Hamid Drake. "Like Sonny" is dedicated to saxophonist Sonny Stitt.[1] The final song, "Waiting for M.C.", is an Anderson-Drake duo from the sessions for the album Destiny (1994) by pianist Marilyn Crispell

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[3]

In her review for AllMusic, Joslyn Layne stated: "Birdhouse finds tenor sax great Fred Anderson leading his quartet through four originals that cover a spectrum of moods."[2]

The authors of the Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings wrote: "Birdhouse never quite fires, perhaps because the pianist is so restrictive, though 'Like Sonny', a tribute to Sonny Stitt with no hint of pastiche, is worth the wait."[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Fred Anderson except as indicated

1. "Birdhouse" - 18:55
2. "Bernice" - 16:11
3. "Like Sonny" - 15:33
4. "Waiting for M.C." (Fred Anderson - Hamid Drake) - 12:20

Personnel

• Fred Anderson - tenor sax
• Jim Baker - piano
• Harrison Bankhead - bass
• Hamid Drake - drums

References

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