Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. At long last, Caribbean saxophonist Joe Harriott's classic collaboration with Calcutta composer and conductor John Mayer is back in print on this Koch CD reissue of the original Atlantic LP from 1967. In England in the 1960s, Harriott was something of a vanguard wonder on the order of Ornette Coleman. And while the comparisons flew fast and furious and Harriott was denigrated as a result, the two men couldn't have been more different. For one thing, Harriott was never afraid to swing. This work, written and directed by Mayer, offered the closest ever collaboration and uniting of musics East and West.
Trumpeter Terence Blanchard continues to grow and develop with each year. He wrote the score for Malcolm X and this set finds him exploring 11 of his themes from the movie with his quintet (which also includes Sam Newsome on tenor, pianist Bruce Bath, bassist Tarus Matten and drummer Troy Davis). Many moods are explored and the fresh material really invigorates the quintet. Newsome's Trane-isms blend well with Blanchard (whose range has become quite impressive) and the performances (which easily stand apart from the film) are quite memorable. It's one of Terence Blachard's finest recordings.
The three albums tenorman Bill Barron made as a leader for Savoy Records in early 60s embody every facet of this accomplished jazzman as a talented soloist, composer and arranger. And, despite the similarities in their harmonic ideas, Barron was not a slavish disciple of John Coltrane.
How's this for a group.Teddy Quintet leader and vibes,Booker Ervin on tenor,Booker Little on trumpet,Mal Waldron piano,Addison Farmer on bass, and Ed Shaughnessy (who latter was really co-leader of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show band) on drums.That's a group.Teddy Charles was most famous for his thrid stream cool jazz Tentette but could swing in any context of style and has to be in list of greatest vibe players with Hamp,Hutcherson,Walt Dickerson,Cal Tjader,et al.