ELVIN JONES — The Main Force (1976-2019) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This inconsistent 1976 release from the mighty Elvin Jones is most successful when it draws on the high-energy, advanced hard bop style of the drummer's post-Coltrane period. It's a different story when it comes to the date's superfluous accommodations to fusion. Ryo Kawasaki's squelchy wah-wah guitar serves as the date's chief fusion device. At times, Kawasaki functions usefully in a role somewhat based on John McLaughlin's approach with Miles Davis in the late '60s. Mostly, he comes across as an additional flavor calculated to skew the music's appeal to the rock audience. Still, the opening track, Kawasaki's "Salty Iron," is wonderful, funky, jazz fusion, but it's not a track that calls for Jones' peerless gifts. "Philomene" and "Mini Modes" are in a more hard bop vein, but their potential is undermined by Kawasaki's trendy licks and the tinny chime of Al Dailey's electric piano. The highlight is Gene Perla's "Sweet Mama." Here, guest saxophonist Dave Liebman fires up some tasty, apocalyptic mayhem over a roiling, rhythm-section tempest. There's also a magical solo spot from Jones. This track is helped considerably by Dailey more suitably playing an acoustic piano and bassist Dave Williams setting aside his electric in favor of his upright. As for the 16-plus-minute "Song of Rejoicing," this marathon of collective, percussive noodling, including extensive pad slapping from reed players Pat Labarbera and Frank Foster, is simply an ill-conceived shamble. Jim Todd
Tracklist :
1    Salty Iron 5:15
Written-By – Ryo Kawasaki
2    Sweet Mama 6:22
Written-By – Gene Perla
3    Mini Modes 10:32
Written-By – David Williams
4    Philomene 4:38
Written-By – Ed Bland
5    Song Of Rejoicing After Returning From A Hunt 15:43
Adapted By [From The Djoboko Rhythm Of The Ba-benzele Pygmies] – Elvin Jones
Arranged By – Gene Perla
Credits :
Bass – Dave Williams
Drums – Elvin Jones
Guitar – Ryo Kawasaki
Percussion – Dave Johnson (tracks: 1, 2)
Reeds – Dave Liebman (tracks: 1, 2), Frank Foster (tracks: 3 to 5), Pat LaBarbera, Steve Grossman (tracks: 2 to 5)

THE GIL EVANS ORCHESTRA — Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix (1974-2002) RM | Serie Bluebird First Editions | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD reissue (which adds additional material to the original LP program) is much more successful than one might have expected. Jimi Hendrix was scheduled to record with Gil Evans' Orchestra but died before the session could take place. A few years later, Evans explored ten of Hendrix's compositions with his unique 19-piece unit, an orchestra that included two French horns, the tuba of Howard Johnson, three guitars, two basses, two percussionists and such soloists as altoist David Sanborn, trumpeter Marvin "Hannibal" Peterson, Billy Harper on tenor, and guitarists Ryo Kawasaki and John Abercrombie. Evans' arrangements uplift many of Hendrix's more blues-oriented compositions and create a memorable set that is rock-oriented but retains the improvisation and personality of jazz. [This album was re-released in 2002 on the Bluebird label with four bonus tracks from the same sessions] Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. ANGEL 4:09
Arranged By – Tom Malone
Soloist, Alto Saxophone – David Sanborn
2. CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC / LITTLE MISS LOVER 6:34
Arranged By – Tom Malone
Vocals – "Hannibal" Marvin Peterson
3. MEDLEY: CASTLES MADE OF SAND / FOXY LADY 11:30
Arranged By – Gil Evans, Warren Smith
Tenor Saxophone – Billy Harper
Tuba – Howard Johnson
4. UP FROM THE SKIES 10:39
Arranged By – Gil Evans
Electric Guitar – Ryo Kawasaki
5. 1983 – A MERMAN I SHOULD TURN TO BE 7:29
Arranged By – David Horowitz
Electric Guitar – Keith Loving
Flugelhorn – Lew Soloff
6. VOODOO CHILE 5:03
Arranged By, Tuba – Howard Johnson
7. GYPSY EYES 3:44
Arranged By, Soprano Saxophone – Trevor Koehler
8. LITTLE WING 6:34
Alto Saxophone – David Sanborn
Arranged By – Gil Evans
Electric Bass – Herb Bushler
Vocals – "Hannibal" Marvin Peterson
– Alternate And Unused Takes –
9. ANGEL (ALTERNATE TAKE) 4:07
Alto Saxophone – David Sanborn
Arranged By – Tom Malone
10. CASTLES MADE OF SAND (ALTERNATE TAKE) 5:04
Arranged By – Gil Evans
Tenor Saxophone – Billy Harper
Tuba – Howard Johnson
11. UP FROM THE SKIES (ALTERNATE TAKE) 10:02
Arranged By – Gil Evans
Electric Guitar – Ryo Kawasaki
Trumpet – "Hannibal" Marvin Peterson
12. GYPSY EYES (ALTERNATE TAKE) 3:23
Arranged By, Soprano Saxophone – Trevor Koehler
Personnel :
Gil Evans - Piano, Electric Piano, Arranger, Conductor
Hannibal Marvin Peterson - Trumpet, Vocals
Lew Soloff - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Piccolo Trumpet
Peter Gordon - French Horn
Pete Levin - French Horn, Synthesizer
Tom Malone - Trombone, Bass Trombone, Flute, Synthesizer, Arranger
Howard Johnson - Tuba, Bass Clarinet, Electric Bass, Arranger
David Sanborn - Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute
Billy Harper - Tenor Saxophone, Flute
Trevor Koehler - Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute, Baritone Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Arranger
John Abercrombie, Ryo Kawasaki - Electric Guitar
Keith Loving - Guitar
Don Pate - Bass
Michael Moore - Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass
Bruce Ditmas - Drums
Warren Smith - Vibraphone, Marimba, Chimes, Latin Percussion
Sue Evans - Drums, Congas, Percussion