DON ELLIS - The Lost Tapes Vol. 3
Sleepy Night RecordsSNRCD022
Comprising entirely of previously unreleased material, Lost Tapes Vol 3 from sadly influential but in some ways forgotten Jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer
and bandleader Don Ellis is released this August on CD by Sleepy Night Records.
This collection is based upon a treasure trove of tape recordings and other material supplied to Sleepy Night Records by the late British musician, band leader
and sadly missed personal friend of mine Ken Orton who worked tirelessly with members of Don’s family to preserve Don’s memory. The CD is, therefore, largely
a collection of studio material and music recorded at various clubs on reel to reel and cassette tapes. Grateful thanks are also due to Kens wife Marie-Claire Orton
who handed over Kens Don Ellis collection so it could be used to help keep Don’s music alive and the memory of Ken.
The production team including Nick Di Scala and Gary Gillies have done tremendous job in transforming music from cassette to CD quality and the album
features a range of tracks from small group, such as Don’s Hindustani Jazz Sextet to his most wayout Big Bands. Don never stood still in his quest to provide exciting and innovative music employing a wide range of instrumentation, textures and time signatures many of which can be heard on this CD.
Sadly though, it is not possible to list the line up of musicians on each track or be a 100% certain of recording dates. As for the music on this album, it kicks off with Climbin that Mountain composed by Don and with Lyrics by Allen Lannom. This is played by Don’s sometime labelled “Organic” 15 piece de-electronified band and dates from May 1974. Starting with a haunting but memorable solo vocal then Don Ellis takes over with a trumpet solo that demonstrates his amazing virtuosity and which sets the level for the rest of the CD.
The next track is My composed by Don and which dates from 1966 and is by the Hindustani Jazz Sextet providing another outing for Don’s creative trumpet within a smaller group setting.
Composed by Emil Richards the next track is Bombay Bossa Nova and probably dates from 1965. Played by Don’s full size big band, this features Harihar Rao on sitar as well as Don on trumpet
Don follows this up with a Hank Levy composition It’s Time Again dating fro 1975 and which is, perhaps, a reflection of Don’s more familiar Pussy Wiggle Stomp. If this colossal big band masterpiece doesn’t thrill you and get your feet tapping, nothing will. Featuring Don on trumpet and Milcho Leviev on keyboards. It is worth buying the CD for the sheer delight of hearing this track.
Dating from 1973, Milcho Leviev’s composition Fire Dance features tenor saxist Sam Falzone on clarinet backed by some powerful drumming by a percussion team.
Moving on to 1976, we find Don’s composition Let’s Do It This Way For Awhile and which features Art Pepper on alto sax aided by drummer David Crigger.
The track simply titled TR was a 1978 composition by Don and which has Stu Goldberg on keyboards and and Mike Carnahan on alto sax and is a full orchestral version of a small combo version first heard on Vol-1 of this series.
My personal favourite track on this CD is this one – Don’s 1977 composition Desire brings so much happiness both rhythmically and instrumentally before Don rides dramatically above it all in a trumpet solo few, if any, could match. Beware of a trick ending. A sensational big band track.
Finally, to what is thought to have been one of Don’s last recording and from April 1978, Vulcan features Don on superbone, again illustrating his instrumental flexibility as well as guitarist William Logan and which is a great foot tapping track to end a memorable CD. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
Don Ellis did not believe in playing it safe and this album should help ensure that the man and his music are not forgotten
Reviewed by Cyril Pelluet
Sleepy Night RecordsSNRCD022
Comprising entirely of previously unreleased material, Lost Tapes Vol 3 from sadly influential but in some ways forgotten Jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer
and bandleader Don Ellis is released this August on CD by Sleepy Night Records.
This collection is based upon a treasure trove of tape recordings and other material supplied to Sleepy Night Records by the late British musician, band leader
and sadly missed personal friend of mine Ken Orton who worked tirelessly with members of Don’s family to preserve Don’s memory. The CD is, therefore, largely
a collection of studio material and music recorded at various clubs on reel to reel and cassette tapes. Grateful thanks are also due to Kens wife Marie-Claire Orton
who handed over Kens Don Ellis collection so it could be used to help keep Don’s music alive and the memory of Ken.
The production team including Nick Di Scala and Gary Gillies have done tremendous job in transforming music from cassette to CD quality and the album
features a range of tracks from small group, such as Don’s Hindustani Jazz Sextet to his most wayout Big Bands. Don never stood still in his quest to provide exciting and innovative music employing a wide range of instrumentation, textures and time signatures many of which can be heard on this CD.
Sadly though, it is not possible to list the line up of musicians on each track or be a 100% certain of recording dates. As for the music on this album, it kicks off with Climbin that Mountain composed by Don and with Lyrics by Allen Lannom. This is played by Don’s sometime labelled “Organic” 15 piece de-electronified band and dates from May 1974. Starting with a haunting but memorable solo vocal then Don Ellis takes over with a trumpet solo that demonstrates his amazing virtuosity and which sets the level for the rest of the CD.
The next track is My composed by Don and which dates from 1966 and is by the Hindustani Jazz Sextet providing another outing for Don’s creative trumpet within a smaller group setting.
Composed by Emil Richards the next track is Bombay Bossa Nova and probably dates from 1965. Played by Don’s full size big band, this features Harihar Rao on sitar as well as Don on trumpet
Don follows this up with a Hank Levy composition It’s Time Again dating fro 1975 and which is, perhaps, a reflection of Don’s more familiar Pussy Wiggle Stomp. If this colossal big band masterpiece doesn’t thrill you and get your feet tapping, nothing will. Featuring Don on trumpet and Milcho Leviev on keyboards. It is worth buying the CD for the sheer delight of hearing this track.
Dating from 1973, Milcho Leviev’s composition Fire Dance features tenor saxist Sam Falzone on clarinet backed by some powerful drumming by a percussion team.
Moving on to 1976, we find Don’s composition Let’s Do It This Way For Awhile and which features Art Pepper on alto sax aided by drummer David Crigger.
The track simply titled TR was a 1978 composition by Don and which has Stu Goldberg on keyboards and and Mike Carnahan on alto sax and is a full orchestral version of a small combo version first heard on Vol-1 of this series.
My personal favourite track on this CD is this one – Don’s 1977 composition Desire brings so much happiness both rhythmically and instrumentally before Don rides dramatically above it all in a trumpet solo few, if any, could match. Beware of a trick ending. A sensational big band track.
Finally, to what is thought to have been one of Don’s last recording and from April 1978, Vulcan features Don on superbone, again illustrating his instrumental flexibility as well as guitarist William Logan and which is a great foot tapping track to end a memorable CD. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
Don Ellis did not believe in playing it safe and this album should help ensure that the man and his music are not forgotten
Reviewed by Cyril Pelluet
