George Russell Sextet at the Five Spot

[paul secor]

I was listening to the Verve CD issue of George Russell Sextet at the Five Spot and noticed that the track indicator on my CD player listed a series of second numbers after the track number (1-1, 1-2, 1-3; 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, ...). I believe that only one track didn't have a second number after the track number. Do the second numbers indicate edits? At times I thought I could hear where an edit might have occured, and other times I couldn't. Or maybe I was just hearing things that weren't there.

edit - Figures that I had to edit this post.

Edited August 24, 2007 by paul secor

[mikeweil]

Verve used the index figures to mark edits on their reissue of the Mingus CD Pre-Bird - maybe the Russell, too? or to index solos or song sections? No mention in the liner notes (in the credits to the Mingus they noted this)?

Edited August 24, 2007 by mikeweil

[brownie]

I have the original Decca vinyl of this (skipped the CD reissue).

On that initial release, the tunes clocked in like this:

- Sippin' at the Bells, 7:20

- Dance Class, 6:17

- Swingdom Come, 7:27

- 121 Bank Street, 6:15

- Beast Blues, 8:52

- Moment's Notice, 8:05

Any significant difference with the CD material?

[paul secor]

Verve used the index figures to mark edits on their reissue of the Mingus CD Pre-Bird - maybe the Russell, too? or to index solos or song sections? No mention in the liner notes (in the credits to the Mingus they noted this)?

I have Pre-Bird and read the mention of index figures/edits in the notes. Didn't see any mention of that in the Russell notes - unless I missed it.

[paul secor]

I have the original Decca vinyl of this (skipped the CD reissue).

On that initial release, the tunes clocked in like this:

- Sippin' at the Bells, 7:20

- Dance Class, 6:17

- Swingdom Come, 7:27

- 121 Bank Street, 6:15

- Beast Blues, 8:52

- Moment's Notice, 8:05

Any significant difference with the CD material?

No significant differences except on 121 Bank Street, which is listed as 5:55 - checked on my player to be sure - 5:54 there.

[brownie]

I have the original Decca vinyl of this (skipped the CD reissue).

On that initial release, the tunes clocked in like this:

- Sippin' at the Bells, 7:20

- Dance Class, 6:17

- Swingdom Come, 7:27

- 121 Bank Street, 6:15

- Beast Blues, 8:52

- Moment's Notice, 8:05

Any significant difference with the CD material?

No significant differences except on 121 Bank Street, which is listed as 5:55 - checked on my player to be sure - 5:54 there.

Have checked on the actual length of 121 Bank Street. The vinyl track clocks in at just under 5:55 too!

[Ken Dryden]

I was listening to the Verve CD issue of George Russell Sextet at the Five Spot and noticed that the track indicator on my CD player listed a series of second numbers after the track number (1-1, 1-2, 1-3; 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, ...). I believe that only one track didn't have a second number after the track number. Do the second numbers indicate edits? At times I thought I could hear where an edit might have occured, and other times I couldn't. Or maybe I was just hearing things that weren't there.

edit - Figures that I had to edit this post.

I don't know, but did you notice that it was obviously a studio recording? Remember how unique the Five Spot piano sounded on other live records?

[paul secor]

I was listening to the Verve CD issue of George Russell Sextet at the Five Spot and noticed that the track indicator on my CD player listed a series of second numbers after the track number (1-1, 1-2, 1-3; 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, ...). I believe that only one track didn't have a second number after the track number. Do the second numbers indicate edits? At times I thought I could hear where an edit might have occured, and other times I couldn't. Or maybe I was just hearing things that weren't there.

edit - Figures that I had to edit this post.

I don't know, but did you notice that it was obviously a studio recording? Remember how unique the Five Spot piano sounded on other live records?

It is obviously a studio recording - the liner notes mention that also - but it would have been great if Decca had recorded that band live, even with the "unique" (you're being too kind) Five Spot piano.

[paul secor]

Reading Orin Keepnews liner notes to George Russell Sextet: Ezz-thetics this morning, I found the probable answer to my question here:

"On one occasion he [George Russell] told me, and I never doubted his seriousness, that he considered tape-editing to be the final step in the creative process. I decline to get specific, but my session sheets support my recollection that not one of these selections is represented by an unedited take."

It might have been interesting for listeners if Mr. Keepnews had been specific about the edits. Listening to the new issue this morning, before I read the liner notes, I heard one place where a segue was so perfect that it almost had to be the result of a tape edit. I don't think that I'll ever listen to Ezz-thetics specifically for editing. I think that might destroy the listening experience for me.