Plenty of ink relates the joys of the Kenny Dorham/Joe Henderson frontline captured on a cache of sessions for Blue Note. But prior to that stellar run, Dorham shared a shorter association with another Blue Note regular that I’ve long considered on par. The results, gathered on this now out of print disc pairing single albums for United Artists and Pacific Jazz, team his characteristically charismatic trumpet with the incendiary alto of Jackie McLean. Both platters reflect the influence of Dorham’s 1961 tour of South America as a member of Monty Kay’s traveling American Jazz Festival. The first date, taped in a NYC studio, opens with a bracing one-two punch: Dorham’s darkly hued “El Matador” and the even darker “(Melody for) Melanie”, one of McLean’s finest compositions rendered here in its definitive version. Pianist Bobby Timmons accomplishes his most adventurous recorded solo on the latter and the horns precede his ingenuity in a rippling convergence of contrasting convections. Nineteen months prior to his career-making turn with the New York Contemporary Five, drummer J.C. Moses also contributes mightily to the action, Dorham closes the date with an ambitious duo reading of Villa Lobos’ “Prelude”, Timmons’ keys artfully in tow. The second date, recorded live at San Francisco’s Jazz Workshop, isn’t quite so enterprising, but with the exceptional rhythm section of Walter Bishop, Leroy Vinnegar and Art Taylor, the horns still receive reliable swinging support. Musical peaks include a protean portrayal of Dorham’s “Una Mas” and a concluding romp through the set list staple “San Francisco Beat.” I’ve spun this one countless times since parting with the necessary cash at a Seattle Tower Records (RIP) in late-1991 and is shelved prominently amongst my most treasured jazz recordings.
Posted by derek on November 19, 2006 6:55 AMJust spun this last night. Excellent date. JC Moses is on fire as usual, though this might be the best Timmons I've heard (not that I've heard that much of him...).
Spent much less time with the Inta Somethin' LP, but remember liking it too.
Posted by: clifford at November 21, 2006 4:29 PMI think you're spot on about Timmons. He's sometimes maligned as a hardbop hardcase, but he's done some great (& fairly daring) work under that rubric. Some of my favorite stuff is collected on The Prestige Trio Sessions combining two Prestige LPs (Little Barefoot Soul and Chun-King). Two funky rhythm teams aid & abet: Sam Jones (sounding absolutely massive) & Ray Lucas on the first, Keter Betts & Tootie Heath on the second. LBS started out as one of those disaster-in-making sessions where the leader shows up for a quintet date at Rudy's and only Jones has made the scene. A quick pick-up call to Lucas made it trio & the three commenced to jamming amiably on a handful Timmons-penned blues numbers. Great stuff.
I don't know much about Moses other than the handful of dates I've heard him on with Dolphy, Shepp, Hill and others. Any recs as to his best work?
Posted by: derek at November 22, 2006 6:52 AMSome very solid music, but one of the worst album covers of all time.
Posted by: pdf at November 22, 2006 8:42 AMI actually dig the cover art. Reminds me of the original to Sonny Simmons - Burning Spirits LP and the geometry-inspired colored pencil drawings I used to create as a kid.
Posted by: derek at November 22, 2006 9:18 AMI had a running tally (not a discog) of JC Moses appearances. Will have to dig it out again. He definitely pulls the Marzette ESP up by its bootstraps...
His work with the NYCF is amazing, though certainly of an earlier, more "lick-driven" persuasion.
Posted by: clifford at November 28, 2006 7:41 AMHere’s a partial J.C. Moses discography courtesy of AMG:
Clifford Jordan – Bearcat (1961)
Kenny Dorham – Inta’ Somethin’ (1961)
Kenny Dorham – Matador (1962)
Archie Shepp – NYCF, Vols. 1 & 2 (1963)
Eric Dolphy – Conversations (1963)
Eric Dolphy – Illinois Concert (1963)
Eric Dolphy – Iron Man (1963)
Roland Kirk – Kirk in Copenhagen (1963)
Charles Lloyd – Discovery! (1964)
Bud Powell – Return of Bud Powell (1964)
Archie Shepp – Fire Music (1965)
Archie Shepp – On This Night (1965)
Andrew Hill – Involution (1966)
Joe Sample – Fancy Dance (1969)
Joe Sample – Try Us (1969)
Marzett Watts – S/T (1971)
That's missing side one of Vintage Dolphy, the quartet with Richard Armour on trumpet (who was he???). A great little date.
Posted by: nd at November 28, 2006 12:41 PMAlso:
NYCF "Consequences" (1963, Fontana)
Shepp-Tchicai "Rufus" (1963, Fontana)
John Tchicai "Afrodisiaca" (1969, MPS)
The correct Watts appearances would be:
Marzette Watts & Company (1966, ESP)
Marzette Watts Ensemble (1968-1969, Savoy)
Moses also appears on a circulating Don Cherry rehearsal extract with Pharoah, Izenzon and Joe Scianni from perhaps early '64. The original NYAQ featured Rudd, Tchicai, Moore and Moses, which also nearly mimicks a Rudd-Lacy quartet from the same period.
Posted by: clifford at November 28, 2006 12:53 PMI used to love this album --
Shepp-Tchicai "Rufus" (1963, Fontana)
-- when I was first getting into jazz.
Does anyone know whether it's ever been reissued on CD?
Posted by: Brian Merely at November 28, 2006 1:58 PMSnap! Ain't nobody got nothin' on my man Cliff when it comes to '65-'75 free jazz discog details. The man is a living, breathing athenaeum when it comes to that stuff.
Posted by: derek at November 28, 2006 2:40 PM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................