[Big Band Fusion]

'Septober Energy' is really only fusion-y (in the jazz rock sense) for the first half of side 2 and the centre of side 4. Though the other parts certainly cross into contemporary classical territory.

The fusion-y bits of Westbrook's 'Citadel' also tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Interesting that Westbrook quickly dropped that chugging funky beat thing from his music.

Would the Nucleus albums fit here? Perhaps not a big band at centre but some of those records add other musicians. Much as I admire the musicians playing I've always found the rock there hard to enjoy. Too many gigs in my youth where well-spoken Englishmen in loon pants urged me to 'get down'.

I remember that period only too well. This was the early 70s when hairy rock musicians mingled freely with jazz musicians to produce music of wildly variable quality. I remember seeing an early Mike Westbrook multi-media piece called Earthrise at the Mermaid theatre in London and sitting just in front of the whole of Manfred Mann. In fact, Manfred Mann's Chapter Three ( first album ) was a pretty successful attempt at fusing jazz and prog rock from this period.

The thing I liked about this period was that almost anything was possible, eg Centipede. Can't imagine the accountants in charge of what's left of the music industry letting this kind of thing getting past the proposal stage.

[Big Band Fusion]

And Keith Tippett's Centipede's ' Septober Energy'. This was a truly bonkers project featuring 50 jazz and rock musicians. Must have lost loads of money.

[Big Band Fusion]

Mustn't forget Mike Westbrook's 'Metropolis' and 'Citadel/Room 315'. These are solidly based in jazz but with major Brit rock/fusion undertones circa 1972/73.

And Keith Tippett's Centipede's ' Septober Energy'. This was a truly bonkers project featuring 50 jazz and rock musicians. Must have lost loads of money.

[Big Band Fusion]

Some great examples of late 60s/early 70s big band fusion - a much neglected sub genre when even established band leaders started donning kaftans and flowered shirts :

Central Park North - Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Band

Big Swing Face & Mercy Mercy - Buddy Rich Big Band

Electric Bath, Autumn, Shock Treatment, Live At Monterey - Don Ellis Orchestra

Light My Fire - Woody Herman

Any other examples?

[Blue Note - Beefing Up The Collection]

Just a couple of questions arising from my Blue Note 'quest':

Any opinions on Ready for Freddie by Freddie Hubbard?

My knowledge of Bobby Hutcherson is a bit thin. Can anyone recommend any of his albums, on Blue Note or elsewhere? ( I currently have San Francisco, Dialogue and Total Eclipse plus a Blue Note Best Of )

Thanks

[Blue Note - Beefing Up The Collection]

I just wanted to say thanks for the various replies so far. I've already picked up some useful recommendations.

In response to Dave James, I would say I am pretty immersed in jazz already. I have 9000 or so CDs and LPs, the vast majority jazz. In terms of Blue Note I have pretty much all of the 'usual suspects' and many more besides. However, there is only so much you can listen to ( let alone afford ) and I'm conscious that I'm probably missing out on some of the less well known titles. For example, Dexter Gordon's 'Doin' Alright' is a firm favourite of mine, although 'Go' and 'Our Man In Paris' are usually the ones at the top of the list. And, as someone commented, there are other labels ( eg Riverside and Prestige ) with some great albums. However, Blue Note has always stood out for me, both in terms of sheer consistency and recording quality over a vast output.

As far as tastes are concerned, I'm not a big fan of free jazz in general, although the occasional artist/title can be rewarding. Other than that, I'm pretty open to anything back to including the first BN titles.

[Blue Note - Beefing Up The Collection]

And that's just for starters. Looks like you've got a lot of discovering and a lot of great listening ahead of you.

edit - Hope you let us know how your listening is going, and that you join the discussion here.

[Blue Note - Beefing Up The Collection]

It's unclear if what you posted are those titles you already have or are considering. You could certainly dig a bit deeper into the BN catalogs of those artists (I really love Lee Morgan's "Leeway" and Hutcherson's "Oblique") but also check out "Basra" (if you can find it), any of the available Three Sounds CDs, and good lord don't forget the Thelonious Monk!

I've got most of the listed titles and considering the rest. Not sure whether to go for the Sam Rivers or the JJ Johnson. What I'm really looking for, however, are some of the less familiar titles that wouldn't necessarily appear in many 'best of' lists.

[Blue Note - Beefing Up The Collection]

I've recently started to improve my collection of Blue Note titles, mainly due to the low prices at Amazon UK. I've already got most of what you might call the classic Blue Note titles ( Midnight Blue, Soul Station, Out To Lunch, Song For My Father and many, many others ) plus numerous compilations. However, I'm wondering if there are some lesser known titles that are worth investigating that might have slipped through the net? I would appreciate suggestions.

I started this 'project' as a result of someone recommending the indispensable Blue Note titles ( see below ) and realising how many I didn't already have - despite many years of collecting.

Cannonball Adderley - Alto Sax - Somethin' Else '58

Tina Brooks - Tenor Sax - True Blue '60

Art Blakey - Drums - Night in Tunisia '59

Donald Byrd - Trumpet - Byrd in Flight '60

Eric Dolphy - Reed Instruments - Out to Lunch - '64

Lou Donaldson - Tenor Sax - Artist Selects '58-'67

Kenny Dorham - Trumpet - Trompetta Toccata '64

Dexter Gordon - Tenor Sax - Doin' Alright '61

Grant Green - Guitar - Idle Moments '63

Herbie Hancock - Piano - Maiden Voyage '65

Joe Henderson - Tenor Sax - Page One '63

Andrew Hill - Piano - Black Fire '63, Point of Departure '64

Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet - Open Sesame '60

Bobby Hutcherson - Vibes - Components '65

J.J. Johnson - Trombone - The Eminent J.J. Johnson Vol 1 '53

Jackie McLean - Alto Sax - New Soil '59

Blue Mitchell - Trumpet - The Thing to Do '64

Hank Mobley - Tenor Sax - Soul Station '60

Lee Morgan - Trumpet - Search for the New Land '64

Sam Rivers - Tenor Sax - Fuchsia Swing Song '64

Wayne Shorter - Tenor Sax - Speak No Evil '64

Horace Silver - Piano - Song for My Father '64

Jimmy Smith - Organ - Open House/Plain Talk '60

Stanley Turrentine - Tenor Sax - Never Let Me Go '63

McCoy Tyner - Piano - The Real McCoy '67

Larry Young - Organ - Unity '65