Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition - Inflation Blues (1983) [re-rip]

Inflation Blues is a record that bristles with energy right from the start - spurred on by the creative rhythms that have always made Jack DeJohnette one of the most inventive drummers of his time! The group features a triple-threat lineup with Baikida Carroll on trumpet, Chico Freeman on tenor and soprano sax, and John Purcell on alto, baritone, flute, and clarinet - especially nice at points when the reedmen shift and turn with sharp edges learned from the earlier avant years, yet given a nice focus here under DeJohnette's leadership. Jack penned all original tunes for the set, and there's a depth to his writing that really marks a move forward - possibly some of his richest musical statements on record ever! Titles include "Ebony", "Inflation Blues", "Slowdown", and "The Islands". ~ by Jazz Chill.

Inflation Blues was the second album released under the title of Special Edition and remains a fusion jazz go-to-album for me. A bit of that Miles Davis inspired Fusion, yet always in control with some epic moments......this band were extra special! For those less familiar with Jack and his special edition what you can expect is some fantastic drumming and percussion along with some fantatsic flute, sax, bass, trumpet, clarinet, piccolo and piano. This music is highly energetic and inspired with a nice range in mood and tempo changes. The music is challenging and ever changing but remians very accessible and easy to follow. And I guess there lies the key reason why I adore this album so much....it is creative, bold yet universal! ~ by James Unger, Albums You Just Gotta Hear......

ECM Records, ECM 1244, 1983

Recorded September, 1982 at Power Station, New York

Musicians:

Jack DeJohnette - Drums, Piano (#A1,A2), Clavinet (#B2), Voice (#B2)

Baikida Carroll - Trumpet (#A1,B1,B3)

Chico Freeman - Bass Clarinet (#A1,B1,B3), Tenor Sax (#A1,B2), Soprano Sax (#A1-B1)

John Purcell - Alto Flute (#A1), Alto Sax (#A1,B1,B2), Piccolo Flute (#B1), Baritone Sax (#B2,B3),
Alto Clarinet (#B1), Flutes (#A2,B2), Reeds (#A2)

Rufus Reid - Double Bass (#A1,A2,B3), Electric Bass (#B2)

Tracks:

A1. Starburst {Jack DeJohnette} (9:10)

A2. Ebony {Jack DeJohnette} (8:39)

B1. The Islands {Jack DeJohnette} (8:31)

B2. Inflation Blues {Jack DeJohnette} (6:41)

B3. Slowdown {Jack DeJohnette} (6:23)

Total Time: 39:24

Credits:

Producer - Manfred Eicher

Recording Engineer - Jan Erik Kongshaug

Photo - Karen Schoonmaker

Design - Klaus Detjen

Link

Cecil McBee Sextet With Chico Freeman ‎– Compassion (1977) [Vinyl> flac 24bit]

The companion to 'Alternate Spaces'.
An album that has never had a CD release, this is my own rip from a mint sealed LP with full scans.

Review by Scott Yanow:
Performed the day after Music From The Source (also recorded at Sweet Basil in New York), this excellent post-bop set features the brilliant bassist Cecil McBee, up-and-coming saxophonist Chico Freeman (heard on tenor and soprano), trumpeter Joe Gardner, pianist Dennis Moorman, drummer Steve McCall and Don Moye on conga. They perform long renditions of a pair of McBee originals, along with Freeman's "Pepe's Samba." The excellent solos, particularly those of Freeman, are adventurous, yet still based in the hard bop/modal tradition.

1. Pepi´s Samba 13:15
2. Undercurrent 10:55
3. Compassion 17:25

Joe Gardner (t) Chico Freeman (ss,ts) Dennis Moorman (p) Cecil McBee (b) Steve McCall (d) Famoudou Don Moye (pc)
Recorded live at Sweet Basil, New York City, August 3, 1977.
(Enja 3041)

Cecil McBee - Alternate Spaces (1977) [vinyl>flac]

I've been listening to some Chico Freeman of late and I thought I'd resurrect this from the old Crypt. Although I prefer the contemporary Enja live recording 'Music From The Source', the calmer, more reflective music on offer here has much to recommend it. It was at one time available on CD, if you would like to own a copy, the last time I checked there was one available on Amazon for $480+...

Review by Scott Yanow:
Bassist Cecil McBee and Chico Freeman (who triples on tenor, soprano and flute) teamed up many times during the late 1970s and '80s. Their collaborations found them playing music that was a spiritual extension on hard bop, adventurous while moving forward. On this LP, they perform five of McBee's originals in a sextet that also includes trumpeter Joe Gardner, the percussive pianist Don Pullen (a major asset to the date), drummer Allen Nelson and percussionist Don Moye. The often melodic but unpredictable music definitely holds one's interest.

01 - Alternate Spaces
02 - Consequence
03 - Come Sunrise
04 - Sorta, Kinda Blue
05 - Expression

Roots Salutes the Saxophone

Our good buddy Bluebird is back with another lovely goodie from Nathan Davis' Roots project. This time Nathans' front line teammates are Sam Rivers, Arthur Blythe and Chico Freeman! WHEW!!

While the tunes are all mainstream, this particular ensemble plays much closer to the 'edge', for lack of a better term. That shouldn't be particularly surprising, given that the participants all have pretty fair free jazz backgrounds. This was actually the first Roots ensemble recorded live in 1991. It is a riveting and fun ride start to finish!

"Recorded at the Leverkusen Jazz Festival, where this outstanding all-star saxophone repertory band made its début in 1991, this album features ROOTS celebrating some of the great saxophonists in jazz with memorable versions of the great compositions with which they are associated.
"What ROOTS celebrates so enjoyably... is the sheer vitality, adaptability and diversity of the jazz tradition itself, providing as it does an ever-expanding body of work to be interpreted anew by each succeeding generation of musicians."

(Chris Parker, Jazz Correspondent , Daily Telegraph Weekend)

Roots - Saying Something

Every now and again, one of our friends here will send me a share that gets buried in my inbox and forgotten but they always resurface once I get around to going thru emails. Obviously I am inferring that this is one of those; bluebird sent this nearly a month ago and I am just now getting around to it.

Roots is a saxophone ensemble that toured Europe each summer or much of the 90's. The band was lead by Nathan Davis and always featured at least 3 other killer saxophonist and a first class rhythm section. Each tour the band would focus on 2 or 3 sax masters and songs associated with them. Here the focus' are Wayne Shorter, Lester Young and John Coltrane and Dr. Davis is joined by Arthur Blythe, Benny Golson and Chico Freeman on the front line. The rhythm section is merely Kirk Lightsey, Buster Williams and Ed Thigpen.

The powerful 7 song live program is full of great moments and lovely songs; all done with plenty of room for folks to stretch out - now that bluebird has reminded me of them, perhaps some other recordings of this great band will be forthcoming.