Don Ellis "Live in India" (1978) Ltd Ed. of 1000

[JSngry]

http://www.sleepynightrecords.com/media.php

It's all here, the goods and the bads, but ultimately it's all...interesting, and worth at least knowing about at some point.

Quoth DGruv:

Don Ellis recorded live in India – but with a sound that's as tight and soulful as his classic American albums from the 70s! The group here is smaller than the usual Ellis outfit, but there's a tightness – and soulful sensibility to the music that's undeniable – nice and funky in parts, thanks to great interplay between Randy Kerber on acoustic and electric piano, Leon Gaer on bass, and Dave Crigger on drums – a trio that's a perfect foil for Don's amazing work on trumpet! Emilie Diehl provides some wordless vocals at a few points, which makes for an extra added layer to the music – and the whole thing's a wonderful addition to Don's catalog – essential for any fan of his music, or of funky 70s jazz in general. Titles include "Storyville", "Fine Line", "Tr's Theme", "Dark Curved Eyebrows", and "Image Of Maria".

The one thing that struck me immediately was how "fusion"-y the thing sounded, yet Ellis was just being Ellis, and Ellis was Ellis long before fusion was fusion.

And the guy could play some serious trumpet when the urge struck him. That's here, as is a tribute/answer to "Birdland" called "Storyville" that is at least as much an abomination as you might think...

Don Ellis. Take the good with the bad or else you don't get any of it...

[JSngry]

Listened to this several times today...Ellis is one of those guys who can have you going from thinking he's a genius to thinking he's a totally tool and back and forth all over again in the course of a single phrase, never mind solo, never mind piece, never mind album...

But like i said, take the good with the bad or else you don't get any of it.

FWIW, the good is very good, imo. So....proceed accordingly.

[AllenLowe]

it sounds more like a studio recording, from the little I've listened to.

[JSngry]

Definitely live. Taken from cassettes and "cleaned up".

The accompanying booklet also appears to be as much a labor of love as the budget would allow for. I gotta love this comment from there, in light of how this is "Volume 1":

This CD set of the "Jazz Yatra" concerts is the first - and perhaps the only and last - small group recording that was made in the 1970s to be issued.

A realistic look at things, to be sure!

[mikeweil]

Thanks for the link - I ordered a copy.