Review by Scott Yanow
Recorded with the same musicians and during the same two days as the Galaxy release Fancy Free, this LP covers a wide area. Bassist Richard Davis is heard in an unaccompanied solo on the brief "A Peace for Richard," on a duet with tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson for "On the Trail" (one of the session's highpoints), heading a trio with pianist Stanley Cowell and drummer Billy Cobham on "I'm Old Fashioned" and otherwise playing with a quintet that also includes Henderson, Cowell (who doubles on a dated sounding electric piano), Cobham and trumpeter Eddie Henderson; three songs have vocals by the obscure Dolly Hirota. Ranging from straightahead to some funky pop, this is an interesting if not essential release from the masterful bassist.
01 - A Peace For Richard
02 - Elephant Boy
03 - Do A Dog A Favor
04 - On The Trail
05 - I'm Old Fashioned
06 - Sienna Waiting For The Moment
07 - Warm Canto
08 - Song Of Gratitude
09 - Don't Worry Bout A Thing
Eddie Henderson (tp, flh) Joe Henderson (ts) Stanley Cowell (p, el-p) Richard Davis (b) Billy Cobham (d) Dolly Hirota (vo) Bill Lee (arr)
Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA, June 30, July 1, 1977
Extract from review by Chris Sheridan, Jazz Journal, November, 1978
“Professor Davis … what an impressive bassist he is… listen to the way he shadows and jostles Cowell on Nardis, giving the performance tremendous lift. It shows that he has no betters, only peers. Here he has brought together a brawny quintet, including three men who are better-established within the Fusion Music scene. Eddie Henderson came to the fore with Herbie Hancock, but shows here that he is capable of more profound things. Joe's talents have been submerged beneath mountains of wattage on recent Milestone releases, but here he plays with a lighter and more inventive touch. Cobham is, perhaps, a little fidgety, but after so much rock that is only to be expected. Hirota sounds like a cross between Diana Ross and Rose Murphy.”
Review by Scott Yanow
"It seems odd that this Galaxy LP was recorded at the same time as Way Out West for the rival Muse label. Bassist Richard Davis teams up with trumpeter Eddie Henderson, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, keyboardist Stanley Cowell and drummer Billy Cobham for five selections that are highlighted by "Silver's Serenade," "Nardis" and a rare cover version of Donald Byrd's "Fancy Free"; singer Dolly Hirota is featured on "I Still Love You, Baby." Overall this is the stronger of the sets recorded during the two-day period in 1977, an advanced and mostly straightahead effort."
2. Silver's Serenade
3. Emily
4. Nardis
5. I Still Love You, Baby
6. Fancy Free
Eddie Henderson (tp, flh) Joe Henderson (ts) Stanley Cowell (p, el-p) Richard Davis (b) Billy Cobham (d) Dolly Hirota (vo -5) Bill Lee (arr)
Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA, June 30, July 1, 1977
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ReplyDeletethank u kind sir, much respect as always
ReplyDeleteAs usual an excellent choice from the arbiter of excellent jazz. Thanks for very much for this and all of the other selections that have broadened my knowledge of jazz and those who make it.
ReplyDeleteIt´s nice to listen to Warm Canto (M. Waldron).I think there aren´t many versions of that lovely ballad. Thank you Grumpy!
ReplyDeleteI already have Fancy Free, looking forward to listening to Way Out West. This was a brilliant group (Joe Henderson is always reliable for a strong solo!), and a great, if underrated, time for jazz, I think.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all at the Crypt for sharing this wonderful music!
Thanks , Grumpy! I never knew about Way Out West, but it seems like I heard the other way back when it came out (OK, that dates me).
ReplyDelete--Bart
Many thanks, Grumpy! I'm making extra copies for a friend who studied with Richard.
ReplyDeleteI first heard Richard Davis with Thad & Mel in the late 60s early 70s. Always great! Joe Henderson was supportive of many, and always with great music. And I love Eddie H. at all times. Can't wait to hear these..
ReplyDeletethanks Grumpy for the links,nice albums.
ReplyDeleteA pair of wonderful dates - thanks so much
ReplyDeleteKB in NH
Many thanks, grumpy! "Fancy Free" is an excellent album, and never reissued on CD. 70s jazz albums can be a bit hit and miss, but this by far exceeded my expectations. It is a highly enjoyable album throughout. Contributing to its success are the superior jazz standards included, and the sidemen are stellar too.
ReplyDeleteEverything in the presentation is excellent as well, from the rip to the scans, which I can easily read even when printed in CD booklet format.
Considering the excellence of "Fancy Free", I was curious to hear how "Way Out West" from the same sessions would compare. Well, let's say that lightning didn't strike twice. Or perhaps rather that Galaxy simply chose the best tracks for the first release.
"This LP covers a wide area" the AMG review says and that is true. Whereas "Fancy Free" works very well as an album, "Way Out West" seems more lika a bunch of disparate tracks strung together. I'm not a fan of Davis's bowed bass (I much prefer it plucked) and it is interesting to note that Galaxy left all of the four tracks featuring that out of the first album and instead they apper here. The initial solo track "A Peace For Richard" I find unlistenable. There are also three tracks with singer Dolly Hirota here, as opposed to just one on the first album. Now, I don't want to sound too negative; there are some decent to good tracks here, but after the heights of "Fancy Free" this was a disappointment in comparison.
It has been a mystery why the second album was released on Muse when the first was on the Fantasy-owned Galaxy label and it was recorded at the Fantasy studio. I discovered that the online Joe Henderson discography sheds some light on this:
"Producer Ed Michel notes: Both "Fancy Free" and "Way Out West" were scheduled to be released on Galaxy, but due to a contractual misunderstanding, "Way Out West" was given to Muse."
It's not clear what such a contractual misunderstanding could be, but Richard Davis was a Muse recording artist, and perhaps he had only been allowed to make one album for Galaxy. Or none at all, and "Way Out West" was given to Muse as compensation. Such things had happened before.
Even if I rate the first album higher than the second, I appreciate the opportunity to hear them both, and the rips of both are stellar!
Many thanks for the info , chu, I agree with your assessment of the two albums, it does seem as though Galaxy kept the best for themselves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Richard Davis. Good music from one of the best bassists.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to these. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteFor me, one of his best recorded work ! Many thanks, Grump for this splendid post.
ReplyDeleteWay Out West - NEW LINK: https://1fichier.com/?kopdurmu0w
ReplyDeleteFancy Free - NEW LINK: https://1fichier.com/?y6f9bhs23e
My LPs>flac + scans
Many thanks, Grumpy!
ReplyDeleteHi Grump, it seems that the Fancy Free link is inactive ! A crazy Byte ???
ReplyDelete&;0))
... just checked - both links are active.
ReplyDeleteStrange, https://1fichier.com/?y6f9bhs23e doesn't work for me, neither by Safari nor by Firefox, everything equal otherwise ! Never mind.
ReplyDeleteLink appears to be corrupted on the server, so NEW LINK for Fancy Free:
ReplyDeletehttps://1fichier.com/?le4betom25yoia7dpino
Same problem ! Don't mind.
ReplyDeleteYou're right - incomprehensible!
ReplyDeleteHere's a short term solution: https://www106.zippyshare.com/v/ttPgvgiJ/file.html
grumpy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your efforts in sharing this Richard Davis set with us. An all-star date! Can hardly miss with any recording that features Joe Henderson, or Stanley Cowell. Many thanks.
Thanks Grumpy! Listening to Fancy Free now.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for both.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks!!!
ReplyDelete