New link now available. From the original direct to disc LP.Review by Ken Dryden
"Direct-to-disc recordings were highly sought by audiophiles during their heyday in the late '70s and early '80s, prior to the widespread availability of digital recordings. The technology had its advantages, especially during jazz sessions, where musicians the caliber of Clifford Jordan weren't handicapped by the engineer's inability to splice takes or overdub afterwards. Jordan, who is the leader of the session, shines on tenor sax, driven by an outstanding rhythm section with seasoned pianist Hank Jones, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Freddie Waits. Following an extensive exploration of Jordan's very catchy post-bop Vienna (which he previously recorded nine years earlier for the LP In the World), the quartet shifts into a bop mode with a superb take of Oscar Pettiford's Bohemia After Dark and a hard-blowing interpretation of Cole Porter's Love for Sale. Like all direct-to-disc recordings, this long unavailable LP is a limited edition that was in short supply and difficult to find even when it was issued. Any jazz fan fortunate enough to locate a copy decades later will enjoy the performances and marvel at the warm, very intimate sound achieved by the musicians and the engineers on that summer day in 1978."
1. Vienna2. Bohemia After Dark
3. Love For Sale
Clifford Jordan (ts) Hank Jones (p) Reggie Workman (b) Freddie Waits (d)
NYC July 5, 1978
(East World EWLF-98003 - Japan)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGreat record! I bought it when it first came out!!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks. It's always good to hear Clifford Jordan. What a gorgeous sound he had. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Much KC, Jordan is undersung...good luck with the new site
ReplyDeleteAnother good one...thank you
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff,
ReplyDeleteThanks again,
Wayne
Nice to see you back,I have removed all links at 2wisejazzheads except for blogs that I contribute to,pay sites and UKJazzradio,the home of andysjazzshow.
ReplyDeleteThanks, this was missing to my HJ Collection !
ReplyDeleteThis is just superb. I was hooked after the first listen. I'm sure it will be a longtime favourite. Many thanks!
ReplyDeletePK
email grumpywon(a)gmail.com for new link.
ReplyDeleteHi Grumpy,
ReplyDeletein my humble opinion this is the last quality recording of Clifford Jordan, before moving to such musically indecisive labels like Soul Note, Bee Hive and Criss Cross. These labels showed some sloppiness or an indifferent approach to the music and the musicians in almost all areas of production. The whole was crowned by some cheap covers that rather portrayed taxmen when sorting files as musicians in the creative process.
The recording in question also has a unique position as a direct-to-disc recording: It is one of the best organized and musically valuable recordings of the late seventies (along with String Band featuring Isao Suzuki and the Great Jazz Trio Direct From LA - both with Hank Jones !); wonderfully recorded, intimate and delicate.
I own both records as japanese CDs. Unfortunately, much of the superb sound quality has been lost in the process of digitizing. Therefore, I would be very grateful for links.
Incidentally, I can not publish comments at the moment, since I have no access to my Google account (I have to delete everything and then start over again). But you're welcome to publish the above, if it has value to you.
Best Regards, Wolf (Greeny)
Wow, I can't say I agree with your evaluation of Jordan's later recordings! But I very much welcome your comments and shall post them.
grumpy.
imho Clifford Jordan is one of the most individual and soulful sax players ever! all his work with cedar was killer too on the steeplechase label.
ReplyDeletemy faves are 'these are my roots' tribute to leadbelly, 'soul fountain' 'two tenor winner w/junior cook' and the best ultimate CJ imho is 'glass bead games'!
as always thanks for all the awesome music at the krypt. peace :)
Fun!
ReplyDeleteOne of the times where I enjoyed the experience more when the volume was turned up...the sound is good, but it is better, louder.
Merci
abby
Fantastic rip, grumpy! The sound is wonderful and the performances are excellent. Always nice to hear more Reggie Workman, too. Thank you very much for these Jordan albums!
ReplyDeleteThanks, grumpy!
ReplyDeleteExcellent rip and scans - as usual!
This is a very fine album, albeit short, as direct-to-disc LPs tended to be. Just around 30 minutes, but what's there is sweet. I particularly liked the opening "Vienna".
Although they all play well here, one has to marvel at Hank Jones. His earliest recordings were with Hot Lips Page, John Kirby and Andy Kirk's big band in the mid-40s. That seems like an ancient era in comparison, but here, just a week from his 60th birthday, he has no problems keeping up and shining in much more modern surroundings. Lord lists over 1000 sessions with Hank Jones and one can understand why he was popular; whatever the context he always sounds timeless.
One has to wonder if direct-to-disc recordings didn't inhibit participating musicians a bit. Since the entire side had to be recorded in one go, one mistake could screw it up completely, and they would have to start from scratch again. The knowledge that one can't just make a new take of a tune and cut and splice must have affected the musicians' approach somehow. At the end of "Vienna" it sounds as if the engineer decided to quickly fade out, perhaps fearing that an unruly ending could have ruined the whole side.
muchas gracias Gruñón, un saludo
ReplyDeleteThe small group version of Vienna is the highlight for me. Cliff is warm & wonderful as always and Hank Jones' playing, especially on the over-covered Love For Sale, knocks me off my feet. Superb sound.
ReplyDelete