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No Agents of Evil with Paul Dunmall (ss, tamtam) Philip Gibbs (g) Andrew Ball (p) Neil Metcalfe (fl) Hilary Jeffreys (tb) - Recorded Vic Rooms Bristol, 24 Feb 2002 - Duns Limited Edition: Paul's cherished label for his own stuff, mainly. This is the Andrew Ball - the erstwhile classical virtuoso - in place you might say of the usual Keith Tippett and in a totally free improvised setting; and he really knows what he's doing.
I'm re-posting because what it lacks in complexity - and jazz - is more than counterbalanced by the fact that it is one of the most crucial signpost albums in this decade of any genre.
Miles Davis's 1951 album 'Dig' with Sonny Rollins, Jackie McLean, Walter Bishop, Tommy Potter & Art Blakey.
Jackie McLean's hero, Charlie Parker, was listening in the engineer's booth which must have been unnerving for the altoist who was only 19 at the time.
'Laughin' to Keep from Cryin'
Lester Young with Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Roy Eldridge, Herb Ellis, Hank Jones, George Duvivie & Mickey Sheen
Verve (1958)
For the last couple of months I have been re-discovering Duke Ellington and re-acquainting myself with music I was already familiar with as well as making new discoveries. The latest of these records is a recording from 1950 /1 called "Masterpieces by Ellington." The repertoire doesn't look promising ("Mood indigo", "Sophisticated Lady" and "Solitude" ) as well as the original "The tattooed bride" ( probably not so shocking in 2017!)
I read a review of this record on line which ran counter to the belief that this period was a low point in Ellington's career when his music started to seem irrelevant compared to be-bop and it ushered in a period of decline which was only addressed at Newport in 1956. So much for the established story! This record is absolutely amazing with the standards being dressed up in "concert arrangements" around the 10 minute mark and the influence of 20th Classical music probably being more marked than on anything else I have heard by the Duke. The review can be found here:-
The best album ever made by Duke Ellington—which is to say, one of the best albums in jazz—is also one of his least-known. It attracted scant attention...
This disc is a kind of cross between the classic 1940/1 band and the 1950's offering but probably offers far more evidence of the ability of Ellington and Strayhorn to provide longer and expertly structured arrangements. Oddly, three of the tracks feature a Canadian singer Yvonne, who sound a bit like Sarah Vaughan. I think this is one album that you would go to in order to contrast this music with Classical composers. It is a fabulous discovery and has made me think again about this era of his work.
Can't resist a plug for this magnificent recent remaster.
Finally, the whole gig, remastered in 24carat gold plated mixing. It's a thing of wonder! Worth a gander at the video on the record label website. Resonance seem to specialists in buffing up rare albums and they do a superb job.
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