Eric Posted August 14, 2004 Report Posted August 14, 2004 JOE HENDERSON QUINTET AT THE LIGHTHOUSE Milestone MCD-47104-2 ~ $16.98 AVAILABLE 9/14 One of the most significant improvisers to emerge from the 1960s and a major innovator on tenor saxophone until his death, at 64, in 2001, Joe Henderson possessed a uniquely slithering, squiggling attack, a parched tone that synthesized the epochal sounds of Rollins and Coltrane, and a conception that was equally comfortable in the realms of hard bop, modality, and free jazz. The nine live performances herein, recorded live at the fabled Lighthouse Cafe, Hermosa Beach, CA in September 1970, presents Henderson’s kinetic young working band at the time, featuring the buzzsaw trumpet of Woody Shaw, a frequent front-line partner of the leader. Stoked by a rhythm section of George Cables, Ron McClure, and Lenny White (with Tony Waters’s congas adding flavor on four selections), the dominant mood is effervescent, with the soloists at the tops of their respective games. And the repertoire, which includes such important Henderson originals as "Recorda-Me," "A Shade of Jade," "Isotope," and "Mode for Joe"--with the exception of the latter, all were previously available only in the 8-CD boxed set Joe Henderson: The Milestone Years--is akin to a mini-Greatest Hits. Caribbean Fire Dance, Recorda-Me, A Shade of Jade, Isotope, ’Round Midnight, Mode for Joe, Invitation, If You’re Not Part of the Solution, You’re Part of the Problem, Blue Bossa, Closing Theme with George Cables, Ron McClure, Woody Shaw, Tony Waters, and Lenny White JOHNNY GRIFFIN Bush Dance Galaxy GCD-95004-2 ~ $14.98 AVAILABLE 9/14 The year 1978 was highly significant in the musical chronology of Johnny Griffin (b. 1928). On October 17, the native Chicagoan, who'd been living in Europe since 1963, made his first album in America in 15 years, Return of the Griffin. During the subsequent two days he cut Bush Dance; five years later Griffin was again ensconced in Fantasy’s Berkeley studios, the result being another gem, Call It Whachawana, which completes this disc. Known far and wide as the fastest tenor man in the West, Griffin, like Hall-of-Fame pitchers Bob Feller and Nolan Ryan, had more on the ball than mere velocity. This set presents a soloist with a scintillating array of deliveries, from the extended Afro-Cubop tour de force that is "A Night in Tunisia" to the R&B-redux of "Since I Fell for You"; from the variegated blues shades of "The Jamfs Are Coming" and "Call It Whachawana" to the poignant balladry of "Lover Man" and the hard-bop hoedown of "I Mean You" (by Griffin's genius of an ex-employer, Thelonious Monk). Bush Dance, with the leader backed by two resourceful rhythm sections, is a high-water mark in Johnny Griffin’s lengthy and distinguished discography. A Night in Tunisia, Bush Dance, The Jamfs Are Coming, Since I Fell for You, Knucklebean, I Mean You; Lover Man, Call It Whachawana, A Waltz with Sweetie with George Freeman, Albert “Tootie” Heath, Sam Jones, Curtis Lundy, Mulgrew Miller, Kenneth Nash, Cedar Walton, Kenny Washington ROY HAYNES Quiet Fire Galaxy GCD-95005-2 ~ $14.98 AVAILABLE 9/14 It’s a safe bet that in the year 2004 there is one, and only one, person in the entire world who can claim that his crackling drums inspired the groundbreaking likes of Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Sarah Vaughan, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, and Pat Metheny. That man is Roy Haynes, who for the past half-century has played with virtually every major figure in jazz. Still a marvel as he approaches 80, Haynes (b. 1925) has also led numerous top-flight record dates, including the two paired herein, his only albums for Galaxy. Recorded almost exactly a year apart in July 1977 and 1978, these stellar sessions range from duo to septet. The collective result is at once very much of its time (electric keyboards, fuzz-tone guitar by the gifted, if little-known, Marcus Fiorello, multiple percussion; the Zappa-esque theme that is "Venus Eyes") and timeless (deep-song ballads like "Sweet Song," featuring Bobby Hutcherson's radiant vibes, "Wonderin'," and "More Pain Than Purpose," plus a jauntily swinging "Invitation," with tenor saxist Joe Henderson in peak form). Whether the cadence is tango, samba, funk, rock, or jazz, Roy Haynes is a master of all he rhythmically surveys. Thank You Thank You, Bullfight, Quiet Fire, Processional, Sweet Song, Vistalite, More Pain Than Purpose, Wonderin’, Venus Eyes, Rok Out, Water Children, Invitation with George Cables, Ron Carter, Stanley Cowell, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, John Klemmer, Milcho Leviev, Cecil McBee, Kenneth Nash, and others Quote
Brad Posted August 14, 2004 Report Posted August 14, 2004 If you want to talk killer stuff, check out the upcoming Dexter Prestige Box. Quote
Guy Berger Posted August 14, 2004 Report Posted August 14, 2004 I'm psyched about the JH reissue! Guy Quote
Eric Posted August 14, 2004 Author Report Posted August 14, 2004 If you want to talk killer stuff, check out the upcoming Dexter Prestige Box. Indeed ... I was actually checking out that box when I came on to these ... B-) Quote
Shawn Posted August 14, 2004 Report Posted August 14, 2004 Nice to see that Griffin disc! The version of Lover Man on here is absolutely breathtaking. Quote
JSngry Posted August 14, 2004 Report Posted August 14, 2004 That Haynes album (or the VISTALITE portion of it anyway, which is all I know) pretty much sucks except for the version of "Invitation", which is one of Joe Henderson's greatest moments on record, bar none. Quote
Eric Posted August 14, 2004 Author Report Posted August 14, 2004 That Haynes album (or the VISTALITE portion of it anyway, which is all I know) pretty much sucks except for the version of "Invitation", which is one of Joe Henderson's greatest moments on record, bar none. Yeah, there is enough hedging in the description to make me wonder. Too bad about the killer Joe Henderson track. I am really excited about the Lighthouse stuff and the Griffin ("Call It ..." was one of my first ever jazz lps!). Quote
JSngry Posted August 14, 2004 Report Posted August 14, 2004 I'll strongly recommend getting the Roy thing just for that one cut. It's that good. Swings like a mofo, and Joe is at his loosest and groovingest. Joe played "Invitation" a lot over the years, but other than one ridiculous private recording I've heard, this is THE one, in my opinion. Over the years, There have been occasional albums that I've bought (and kept) for just one cut, and VISTALITE has been one of them. Quote
mikeweil Posted August 14, 2004 Report Posted August 14, 2004 I'm psyched about the JH reissue! I thought everybody here had the Joe Henderson Milestone Years box set ... Quote
ejp626 Posted August 17, 2004 Report Posted August 17, 2004 I thought everybody here had the Joe Henderson Milestone Years box set ... Well, I do have the box set, so I can pass on the JH, though it is always good to see this music come back into print. I'll be jumping on the Griffin. It sounds great. I have much of his music from around this period, and like it very much. Not as sure about the Haynes. Anyone know about the second set? If it is just one song, this might be a situation where I would wait to see if it shows up on Emusic in six months. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted August 17, 2004 Report Posted August 17, 2004 Looks like the Griffin is missing a track. I hate it when they do stuff like that. Quote
Bluerein Posted August 18, 2004 Report Posted August 18, 2004 Same here Chuck!!! I've made an inquiery about this procedure at Fantasy some years ago and their reply was I should be glad they would reissue it at all!!!!! Which I am of course but would like to see the original LP's in complete form on CD (and if 2 on 1 doesnt fit please use 2 cd's). Cheers, Reinier The Henderson is great indeed (I don't have the box because I don't like the later stuff so this reissue is very welcomed by me). Quote
BruceH Posted August 24, 2004 Report Posted August 24, 2004 Nice to see that Griffin disc! The version of Lover Man on here is absolutely breathtaking. I'm looking forward to it!! Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted August 31, 2004 Report Posted August 31, 2004 I'm psyched about the JH reissue! Guy me too! Quote
Big Al Posted September 6, 2004 Report Posted September 6, 2004 I'm psyched about the JH reissue! Guy me too! Me three! Quote
Shrdlu Posted September 6, 2004 Report Posted September 6, 2004 Great news! Can't have too much Joe. But who wrote this lousy prose? One of the most significant improvisers to emerge from the 1960s and a major innovator on tenor saxophone until his death, at 64, in 2001, Joe Henderson possessed a uniquely slithering, squiggling attack, a parched tone that synthesized the epochal sounds of Rollins and Coltrane, and a conception that was equally comfortable in the realms of hard bop, modality, and free jazz. Parched? Uniquely slithering? (Well, he was on "The Sidewinder"!) Squiggling attack? Quote
Eric Posted September 7, 2004 Author Report Posted September 7, 2004 Looks like they also have some unreleased live McCoy Tyner coming out on 9/28 http://www.fantasyjazz.com/catalog/tyner_m_cat2.html#9339 Quote
Brad Posted September 14, 2004 Report Posted September 14, 2004 This is out tomorrow and I'm excited about the Henderson and the Griffin but from what I've read here and elsewhere the Haynes sounds like a pasadena. Quote
BFrank Posted September 14, 2004 Report Posted September 14, 2004 I've still got vinyl of "Bush Dance". Maybe I'll just stick with that. Quote
Brad Posted September 30, 2004 Report Posted September 30, 2004 Has anybody checked out Johnny Griffin's Bush Dance yet. I picked this up last week and started listening yesterday. The first 3 minutes of a 17 minute Night In Tunisia are unusual because it has no relation to known prior arrangements of the Diz's tune but once you get past that there's some great lighting fast music going on there. Johnny had it going that day. The opening is so unusual that I thought I'd gotten the wrong cd at first and took it out to check it! Quote
jazzbo Posted September 30, 2004 Report Posted September 30, 2004 Yes, it's a very nice cd, that Bush Dance, been enjoying the lp for some time. That is sort of how Griff has been doing stuff the last two and a half decades or more, playing around with the structure and the form and playing his butt off. The man is a world treasure, he's been true to his muse and a solid artist for so long! Long may he reign! Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted September 30, 2004 Report Posted September 30, 2004 Looks like they also have some unreleased live McCoy Tyner coming out on 9/28 http://www.fantasyjazz.com/catalog/tyner_m_cat2.html#9339 Wow!! Listening to the on-line samples now. Damn!!! McCOY TYNER Counterpoints/Live in Tokyo Milestone MCD-9339-2 ~ $14.98 The Greeting, Aisha, Sama Layuca, Prelude to a Kiss, Iki Masho (Let's Go) with Ron Carter, Tony Williams Recorded at Denen Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan, July 28, 1978. (previously unreleased). RealPlayer samples at the link above. Quote
BruceH Posted September 30, 2004 Report Posted September 30, 2004 Yes, it's a very nice cd, that Bush Dance, been enjoying the lp for some time. That is sort of how Griff has been doing stuff the last two and a half decades or more, playing around with the structure and the form and playing his butt off. The man is a world treasure, he's been true to his muse and a solid artist for so long! Long may he reign! Amen to that! Quote
Jazzmoose Posted October 1, 2004 Report Posted October 1, 2004 The first 3 minutes of a 17 minute Night In Tunisia are unusual because it has no relation to known prior arrangements of the Diz's tune but once you get past that there's some great lighting fast music going on there. I haven't picked it up, but I heard this on the radio the other day. I must say, it was nice to hear something different done with this tune! Quote
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