Marion Brown Quartet - Why Not? (1966) [vinyl]

Issued in 1968, Why Not? is Marion Brown's second outing for the ESP label as a leader. The saxophonist also guested on a Burton Greene date earlier that same year. Featuring pianist Stanley Cowell, Coltrane alumnus Rashied Ali (Coltrane had been dead less than a year at this time), and bassist Norris Sirone Jones, Brown reveals his great strengths as a composer and bandleader, which are matched by his abilities as a soloist. The opener, "La Sorella," features a gorgeous opening solo by Cowell. Using large and intricate chorded modal phrases, Cowell creates a virtual chromatic field for the rest of the rhythm section -- Jones, in particular, responds in kind with scintillating three-string figures that add a deeper series of conical figures for ballast. Brown enters just behind Ali in full cry on the alto. Using a Coltrane-esque song figure to respond to Cowell's stunningly beautiful foundation, Brown blows lean but long lines before a long solo by Jones cuts them all quiet. When the band enters, they are in prelude form, with spun-out piano lines ever in anticipation and Brown calling something out of the ether that never quite materializes, which is fine because on "Fortunata" it does: a ballad that develops into something wholly other without changing tempo. This is jazz as expressionism; it doesn't need to be "free" because it has been untethered from the opening bars. Brown's solo here lilts on the branches of Cowell's arresting, nearly Debussian chromatic figures that extend harmonic ranges almost without end. By the time the band gets to the title track, a free workout in a dizzying tempo, the listener is grounded enough in Brown's composed lyricism so as not to be surprised at all when the fury of the tempo is elongated by the temperance in tension the band creates. Finally, on "Homecoming," where the ballad begins to show its face once more, each member steps in to underline and deconstruct it by using contrapuntal lyricism as a contrast. Even Ali, one of the great powerhouse drummers, dances rather than sprints around the band, even in his lengthy solo. This is a phenomenal album, a place where Marion Brown got to reveal early on why he was such a formidable force: He understood the inherent importance of musical traditions and he also understood how imperative it was to them and to jazz to extend them in a manner that left their roots clearly visible. ~ Thom Jurek, AMG.

ESP-Disk, ESP 1040, 1968
Recorded 23^rd October, 1966 in New York City 

Musicians:
Marion Brown - Alto Saxophone
Stanley Cowell - Piano
Norris "Sirone" Jones - Bass
Rashied Ali - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. La Sorrella {Marion Brown} (11:28)
A2. Fortunato {Marion Brown} (8:33)
B1. Why Not? {Marion Brown} (6:56)
B2. Homecoming {Marion Brown} (10:15) 

Total Time: 37:12

Credits:
Recording Engineer - George Klabin
Cover Photo - Guy Kopelowicz
Cover Graphics - Boby Jerry

Dewey Redman - Coincide (1974) [true flac]

A beautiful and spiritual record by Dewey – and one that features very stripped down playing, mostly in a trio or quartet format. The players differ from track to track – and they include Sirone on bass, Eddie Moore on drums, Leroy Jenkins on violin, and Ted Daniel on trumpet. Two tracks feature Redman playing zither, which sounds strange, but very nice. Another features clarinet, and the remainder feature Dewey on his traditional tenor. Titles include "QOW", "Somnifacient", "Seeds & Deeds", "Funcitydues", and "Phadan-Sers". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Impulse! Records, ASD-9300, 1975

Recorded 9^th (#A1,A2) & 10th (#A3-B4) September, 1974 at Generation Sound Studios, New York City

Musicians:

Dewey Redman - Tenor Sax (#A1,B1,B2,B4), Clarinet (#A2), Zither (#A3,B3)

Ted Daniel - Trumpet (#A1,A2)

Leroy Jenkins - Violin (#A1,A2)

Sirone - Bass (#A1-B2,B4)

Eddie Moore - Drums (#A1,B1,B2,B4), Tympani (#A2), Cymbals (#A2), Bowed And Struck Idiophone (#A3)

Tracks:

A1. Seeds And Deeds (4:51)

A2. Somnifacient (7:14)

A3. Meditation Submission Purification (8:12)

B1. Joie De Vivre (3:20)

B2. Funcitydues (3:15)

B3. Phadan-Sers (3:38)

B4. Qow (10:17)

All Compositions by Dewey Redman

Credits:

Producer - Ed Michel

Engineer - Tony May

Mixing - Baker Bigsby

Mastering - Kendun Recorders

Design - Tim Bryant

Photography - Philip Melnick

Liner Notes - Robert Palmer

Total Time: 40:47

Dewey Redman is featured in a few different settings on this intriguing and generally successful album. The best cuts are the originals that match Redman's tenor with bassist Sirone and drummer Eddie Moore. In addition, he is heard on zither on two cuts (one of which is unaccompanied), and his trio adds trumpeter Ted Daniel and violinist Leroy Jenkins for two complex originals; Redman switches to clarinet on "Somnifacient." Although it is interesting to hear Redman on clarinet and zither, his tenor playing is clearly his strong point and the main reason to search for this LP. His ten-minute workout on "Qow" is outstanding. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

Marion Brown - Three For Shepp (1966)

An unbelievable recording! As Archie Shepp made his first album for Impulse a tribute to Coltrane, Marion Brown made his a tribute to Shepp - a wonderful lineage of avant talent in the 60s, stated boldly here, given Brown's amazing talent on the record! The album's filled with hard, soulful playing that goes out, but never too far - like Shepp in his best sixties moments - and Brown's working with a great lineup of players that includes Grachan Moncur on trombone, Beaver Harris on drums, and Stanley Cowell on piano! The tunes include three Marion Brown originals on side one, plus three tracks by Shepp on side two. "Spooks" alone will leave you loving this album for years to come – and other tracks include "West India", "Delicado", "New Blue", and "Fortunato". A brilliant blend of 60s "new thing" playing and 70s underground jazz!  © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Impulse! Records, AS-9139, 1967

Universal Music, IMPD-269, 1998

Recorded 1^st December, 1966 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Musicians:

Marion Brown - Alto Saxophone

Grachan Moncur III - Trombone

Dave Burrell - Piano (#1-3)

Stanley Cowell - Piano (#4-6)

Sirone - Bass

Beaver Harris - Drums (#1-3)

Bobby Capp - Drums (#4-6)

Tracks:

1. New Blue {Marion Brown} (5:12)

2. Fortunato {Marion Brown} (8:55)

3. The Shadow Knows {Marion Brown} (3:05)

4. Spooks {Archie Shepp} (4:33)

5. West India {Archie Shepp} (6:25)

6. Delicado {Archie Shepp} (6:39)

Credits:

Producer [Original] - Bob Thiele

Reissue Producer - Michael Cuscuna

Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Remastering - Erick Labson (MCA Studios)

Photography - Chuck Stewart

Art Direction - Hollis A. King

Graphic Design - Isabelle Wong

Liner Notes - Frank Kofsky

Total Time: 34:49