This time, not Bill, but Gil Evans. And yes, I have a Fifth Dimension album. Look up Solid Gold and you’ll know that Marilyn McCoo is not outside my realm.
Gil Evans and Tadd Dameron – The Arranger’s Touch – A Prestige twofer, from back in the days when out of print records would appear on 2-LP sets. I love those days. This combines Evans’ Gil Evans Plus Ten and Dameron’s A Study of Dameronia and Fountainbleau into one package. Some things come to mind, beyond the obvious, which is that Evans and Dameron were amazing musicians. I also can’t help but notice Lee Konitz, Steve Lacy and Paul Chambers on the Evans dates, and a much more hard bop personnel on the Dameron dates, including Gig Gryce, who was amazing and underrated. I love to hear Lacy, having studied with him and had the opportunity to learn about how he came to be such a magical improvisor (he plays this whole tone thing on “Just One of Those Things” that is way too hip!). PC, as always, is amazing.
Gil Evans – Svengali – Lots of joy coming through these days! And, with this record, and those to follow, it’s hard not to feel that! Svengali rules: amazing writing, amazing players, great sound, great vibe. I love “Blues in Orbit,” a George Russell tune I played many times under his leadership, and my new favorite tune that Jaco Pastorius played is “Eleven.” Staggering.
Gil Evans/Steve Lacy – Paris Blues – A lovely, inspired, peaceful journey through amazing story telling. Gil is as colorful as always, and Lacy is simply the greatest storyteller ever.
Donald Fagen – The Nightfly – Another record I absolutely love. The writing, the playing, the concept, the whole thing is wonderful. If I could find a complaint, it would be with the brighter sound of digital recording at the time when this was recorded, and maybe the early digital synth sounds they use from time to time. Otherwise, amazing.
Art Farmer and Donald Byrd – Two Trumpets – So fantastic, I had to listen to it twice. Barry Harris and Art Taylor are as burning as you would expect, and same for Farmer and Byrd, and Jackie McLean, of course. But, Doug Watkins! Wow!
Art Farmer – Live at the Half Note – Totally amazing. Seriously, this album is unbelievable. Swallow on bass, double bass at that time, is incredible – so swinging and solid and rhythmically fascinating; Hall is on fire; Farmer is way too great; obviously (to me), I need to know more about Walter Perkins. “I Want to Be Happy” and “Swing Spring” are highlights. Listened to this one twice, but I’m only reluctantly moving on. What an incredible record.
Fifth Dimension – Stoned Soul Picnic – A really, really fascinating record. I mean, it’s the height of commercialism in some ways, but Laura Nyro, Ashford and Simpson, and Jimmy Webb are amazing composers, and the band can totally play anything, and Bones Howe is just a great producer! It’s not my favorite record ever, but there is so much to listen to on this record, it’s hard not to like it.
Best, R.
PS – a quick excursion to the Getz/Gilberto LP (it’s eponymous), thanks to a gift from a student (I have it on CD). This is a classic – Getz plays amazingly on this record. And, unfortunately, this is an often overlooked record at this point. I mean, it was a gigantic hit, so jazz musicians often assume it to be commercial rather than artistic, failing to recognize that it’s possible to be both.