Best Jazz of 2007:
Reissues and Newly Issued Archival Performances

 

<<Best Jazz of 2007: New Releases

Charles Mingus w/Eric Dolphy/Cornell 1964 This recently-discovered release is certainly the jazz find of the year so far in 2007. In much the way that John Coltrane/Thelonious Monk Live at Carnegie Hall and, to some extent, the live Coltrane document One Up, One Down, Cornell 1964 brings a major piece of jazz history into focus in the best way possible--with an actual recording that documents it. In this case what we hear is a very early performance by the Mingus group that played a well-known concert at New York's Town Hall before embarking on a major tour of Europe. Mingus and Dolphy are joined by Clifford Jordan (tenor sax), Johnny Coles (trumpet), Jaki Byard (piano), and drummer Danny Richmond.

Monterey Jazz Festival releases The Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and in addition to the usual stellar lineup of talent that will be on display the fest is taking time to look back at some of its great performances and its history. Concord Record Group, under the imprint Monterey Jazz Festival Records, is presenting a series of never before released performances from the festival that jazz aficionados will want to have.

Joe Henderson/Power to the People (Keepnews Collection) (Milestone) In 1970 Henderson signed with Orrin Keepnews’ fledgling Milestone label, where he became an equally prolific leader and sideman. His Milestone recordings rank among his best and most interesting work, with the newly reissued Power to the People of particular interest due to its stellar supporting cast: Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, and trumpeter Mike Lawrence on two tracks.

Roy Haynes/We Three (Prestige RVG) (Prestige) This is Roy Haynes’ session, and he certainly is in great form, which sets up a classic recording featuring largely unsung pianist Phineas Newborn, who was influenced not only by Powell but also by Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum. Blesses with phenomenal technique, Newborn seems to have made it too much the centerpiece of his playing in his early days, a fact that is alluded to in Ira Gitler’s new set of liner notes, in which he aroused the ire of none other than Thelonious Monk by writing exactly that criticism of the young Newborn.

Miles Davis/Complete On the Corner Sessions (Columbia Legacy) Of all album releases-- pop, jazz, rock, whatever—of the past forty years or so, surely Miles Davis’ On the Corner has continued to stand as one of the most (if not the most) controversial of all time. Part of that stems from the old ‘this ain’t jazz’ argument that all Davis releases from at least In a Silent Way on up were greeted by the jazz community. But there is more to it than that. Recorded and released in 1972, there was barely any acknowledgement of On the Corner as any kind of real musical achievement until into the 1990s, and even then it was relatively scarce.

John Coltrane/Interplay (Prestige) Interplay is obviously a treasure for Coltrane fans, but it is also an outstanding collection of music for anyone interested in the development of jazz saxophone playhing, particularly in the development of the tenor saxophone styles of the 1950s and 1960s. Coltrane is heard here along with stellar sax players that include Frank Wess, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Paul Quinchette, Hank Mobley (all tenor players) as well as baritone sax greats Cecil Payne and Pepper Adams.

Dewey Redman/The Struggle Continues (ECM) Issued for the first time on CD is Dewey Redman's The Struggle Continues, a 1982 release that helps demonstrate the fact that while he was widely known as an 'outisde' player, he was nonetheless a Texas tenor man who could just as easily play ballads, blues, and other more mainstream jazz sounds. It's a recording that some consider Redman's best.

Bennie Maupin/The Jewel in the Lotus (ECM) Bennie Maupin's Jewel In the Lotus features the multi-reedman along with Herbie Hancock, Charles Sullivan, Buster Williams, Frederick Waits, Billie Hart, and Bill Summers. While Maupin, Hancock, and Williams were all members of Hancock's groundbreaking Mwandishi band, the music on this album isn't much like the music produced by that group. In addition, it's not a heck of a lot like other avant-garde music of the day (1974). It is beautiful, otherworldly, and inspirational.

Sonny Stitt/Stitt's Bits: The Bebop Recordings 1949-1952 (Prestige) Central to the recordings contained on these CDs are performances that feature Stitt in the company of Chicago-born, soulful tenorman Gene Ammons. Whether credited to the Gene Ammons/Sonny Stitt Band, the Gene Ammons Band, the Sonny Stitt Band, or some sessions backing vocalist Teddy Williams, the two play together on a large percentage of the tracks contained herein. Discs Two and Three are peppered with these Stitt/Ammons sessions, and they are mostly wonderful. Interspersed are sessions featuring Stitt’s own quartet which includes, at various times, Duke Jordan, Gene Wright, Junior Mance, and Art Blakey

 

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