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The second album by Elvin Jones as sole title rights leader (excluding the co-op ensemble that recorded the stunning and essential progressive jazz icon Illumination!) has the drummer sounding more like a backup musician, as he claims no compositional duties or noticeable solo space. In fact, this is one of the very best albums in the career of alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano, who occupies the bulk of lead lines and improvising responsibilities. He's so up-front, and on an instrument that is not John Coltrane's main instrument -- the tenor sax -- that the title is also a bit of a misnomer. The value of Jones as a bandleader lies in his concept of using fellow Detroiter Sir Roland Hanna or brother Hank Jones on selected tracks, or in the case of three tracks, no pianist. Bassist Richard Davis rounds out this truly brilliant ensemble of burgeoning mid-'60s jazz stars, who play an enticing collection of standards, bop, compositions of Bob Hammer, and originals from several modern sources. A stone cold bebopper and Charlie Parker devotee at the time of this recording. Mariano is the standout performer. He swings easily but mightily on the title track paralleling Coltrane's "Milestones," stretches the Charles Mingus evergreen "Reincarnation of a Lovebird" (titled here as "Love Bird"), and pulls out all the stops with Hank Jones during an only slightly flawed (they miss two notes) version of the tricky "Anthropology." They tack a calypso beat onto Duke Ellington's "Fantazm" in a playful, modern dress, and stroll on the quirky Hammer composition "That Five-Four Bag" as an offshoot retort to Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." The three tracks sans piano include a walking version of "Everything Happens to Me"; the ballad "Smoke Rings," where the band excepting Mariano is relaxed; and Frank Sinatra's "This Love of Mine," where the emotive saxophonist dips into humor, even a bit ribald. The variety from cut to cut is engaging, and there's nothing over the top, even the drumming of Elvin Jones. With the musicality at a high level, Dear John C. needs revisiting by drumming students and jazz fans to note how teamwork, shared values, and held-in-check dynamics benefit the overall quality of music. It seems this recording is underrated when over time it should never be. Dear John C. is deserving of an excellent rating.
© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo
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Richard Davis, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Hank Jones, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Elvin Jones, Drum, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Douglas, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Charlie Mariano, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Thiele, Producer - Bob Hammer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Elvin Jones, Drum, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Douglas, Producer - Charlie Mariano, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Thiele, Producer - Bob Hammer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Hank Jones, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Charles Mingus, Composer - Elvin Jones, Drum, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Douglas, Producer - Charlie Mariano, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Thiele, Producer
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Dennis, Composer - Tom Adair, Author, ComposerLyricist - Elvin Jones, Drum, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Douglas, Producer - Roland Hanna, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Mariano, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Thiele, Producer
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
H.E. Gifford, ComposerLyricist - Richard Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ned Washington, ComposerLyricist - Elvin Jones, Drum, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Douglas, Producer - Roland Hanna, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Mariano, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Thiele, Producer
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Sinatra, ComposerLyricist - Elvin Jones, Drum, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Douglas, Producer - Charlie Mariano, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Thiele, Producer - Sol Parker, ComposerLyricist - Henry W. Sanicola, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Parker, ComposerLyricist - Dizzy Gillespie, ComposerLyricist - Elvin Jones, Drum, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Douglas, Producer - Roland Hanna, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Charlie Mariano, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Thiele, Producer
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Anthony Newley, ComposerLyricist - Leslie Bricusse, ComposerLyricist - Hank Jones, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Elvin Jones, Drum, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Douglas, Producer - Charlie Mariano, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Thiele, Producer
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Duke Ellington, Composer - Elvin Jones, Drum, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Douglas, Producer - Charlie Mariano, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Thiele, Producer
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Richard Davis, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Elvin Jones, Drum, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - George Douglas, Producer - Charlie Mariano, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Thiele, Producer - Bob Hammer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
The second album by Elvin Jones as sole title rights leader (excluding the co-op ensemble that recorded the stunning and essential progressive jazz icon Illumination!) has the drummer sounding more like a backup musician, as he claims no compositional duties or noticeable solo space. In fact, this is one of the very best albums in the career of alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano, who occupies the bulk of lead lines and improvising responsibilities. He's so up-front, and on an instrument that is not John Coltrane's main instrument -- the tenor sax -- that the title is also a bit of a misnomer. The value of Jones as a bandleader lies in his concept of using fellow Detroiter Sir Roland Hanna or brother Hank Jones on selected tracks, or in the case of three tracks, no pianist. Bassist Richard Davis rounds out this truly brilliant ensemble of burgeoning mid-'60s jazz stars, who play an enticing collection of standards, bop, compositions of Bob Hammer, and originals from several modern sources. A stone cold bebopper and Charlie Parker devotee at the time of this recording. Mariano is the standout performer. He swings easily but mightily on the title track paralleling Coltrane's "Milestones," stretches the Charles Mingus evergreen "Reincarnation of a Lovebird" (titled here as "Love Bird"), and pulls out all the stops with Hank Jones during an only slightly flawed (they miss two notes) version of the tricky "Anthropology." They tack a calypso beat onto Duke Ellington's "Fantazm" in a playful, modern dress, and stroll on the quirky Hammer composition "That Five-Four Bag" as an offshoot retort to Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." The three tracks sans piano include a walking version of "Everything Happens to Me"; the ballad "Smoke Rings," where the band excepting Mariano is relaxed; and Frank Sinatra's "This Love of Mine," where the emotive saxophonist dips into humor, even a bit ribald. The variety from cut to cut is engaging, and there's nothing over the top, even the drumming of Elvin Jones. With the musicality at a high level, Dear John C. needs revisiting by drumming students and jazz fans to note how teamwork, shared values, and held-in-check dynamics benefit the overall quality of music. It seems this recording is underrated when over time it should never be. Dear John C. is deserving of an excellent rating.
© Michael G. Nastos /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:42:26
- Main artists: Elvin Jones
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Impulse!
- Genre: Jazz
© 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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