NATIONAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE FEATURING GERRY MULLIGAN
Directed by Chuck Israels
Dot Time Records DT8002
Conductor & Music Director Chuck Iaraels
Guest Soloist Gerry Mulligan
Arnie Lawrence, Lawrence Feldman, Greg Herbert, Dennis Anderson & Kenny Berger ( reeds )
Jimmy Maxwell, Waymon Reed, Mike Lawrence & David Berger ( tpts )
Jimmy Knepper, Rod Levitt & Sam Burtis ( tmbs )
Steve Brown, Bill Dobbis, Steve Gilmore & Bill Goodwin ( rhythm section )
Margot Hanson ( vocal )
Recorded live at “New School” New York City, 19 February 1977
Chuck Israels has had a varied career has both a bassist and a composer he studied music in the USA and Paris before taking an interest in jazz at the early age of eighteen. He reorded with Cecil Taylor in 1958, he was also involved with the George Russell Sextet in 1960. He is probably best known for being the bass player in the Bill Evans Trio between 1961 and 1966, he perhaps didn’t have the impact with the trio as Scoott La Faro but nevertheless he did a fine job. He formeed a rehearsal band in 1966 and many of his compositions were played by other bands. The National Jazz Ensemble, a repertory group was formed by Chuck Israels and stayed together from 1973 to 1978 and is the subject of this album.
On this occasion the Guest Soloist with the band is Gerry Mulligan and six out of the nine tracks are composed by Mulligan. The opening track is Milligan’s “Back At The Barn” which is one of those tunes which stays in your head long after it’s finished. Mulligan’s baritone opens thee proceedings which slowly builds to a climax with a number of stop time intervals.
The Johnny Carisi compostion which was featured on the Miles Davis “Birth of the Cool” album is Mulligan all the way and is a fairly intricate composition but Mulligan handles it well and the trumpet provide some interesting backing a highly successful track.
The Thelonius Monk composition “Evidence” on which Mulligan does not play is arranged by Chuck Israels, three of the soloists are from the section including Dennis Anderson, Mike Lawrence and Jimmy Knepper, the band have no trouble navigating Mo humournk’s tune.
Ellington’s “Creole Love Call” has a vocal by Margot Hanson which appears out of place on this album, it also has a trumpet solo by Jimmy Maxwell which echoes the original version in style. Thee album closes with Milligan’s “Ballade” arranged by Bob Brookmeyer this is a rewarding piece of music with a strong melody which Mulligan treats with tenderness but with enough steel so not to become over sentimental.
This is a distinguished album with brilliant playing by the band who must rehearse a lot or be fantastic readers. The cherry on the cake is of cause Mulligan whose playing and writing is superlative and his announcements are informative with a sense of humour.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Directed by Chuck Israels
Dot Time Records DT8002
Conductor & Music Director Chuck Iaraels
Guest Soloist Gerry Mulligan
Arnie Lawrence, Lawrence Feldman, Greg Herbert, Dennis Anderson & Kenny Berger ( reeds )
Jimmy Maxwell, Waymon Reed, Mike Lawrence & David Berger ( tpts )
Jimmy Knepper, Rod Levitt & Sam Burtis ( tmbs )
Steve Brown, Bill Dobbis, Steve Gilmore & Bill Goodwin ( rhythm section )
Margot Hanson ( vocal )
Recorded live at “New School” New York City, 19 February 1977
Chuck Israels has had a varied career has both a bassist and a composer he studied music in the USA and Paris before taking an interest in jazz at the early age of eighteen. He reorded with Cecil Taylor in 1958, he was also involved with the George Russell Sextet in 1960. He is probably best known for being the bass player in the Bill Evans Trio between 1961 and 1966, he perhaps didn’t have the impact with the trio as Scoott La Faro but nevertheless he did a fine job. He formeed a rehearsal band in 1966 and many of his compositions were played by other bands. The National Jazz Ensemble, a repertory group was formed by Chuck Israels and stayed together from 1973 to 1978 and is the subject of this album.
On this occasion the Guest Soloist with the band is Gerry Mulligan and six out of the nine tracks are composed by Mulligan. The opening track is Milligan’s “Back At The Barn” which is one of those tunes which stays in your head long after it’s finished. Mulligan’s baritone opens thee proceedings which slowly builds to a climax with a number of stop time intervals.
The Johnny Carisi compostion which was featured on the Miles Davis “Birth of the Cool” album is Mulligan all the way and is a fairly intricate composition but Mulligan handles it well and the trumpet provide some interesting backing a highly successful track.
The Thelonius Monk composition “Evidence” on which Mulligan does not play is arranged by Chuck Israels, three of the soloists are from the section including Dennis Anderson, Mike Lawrence and Jimmy Knepper, the band have no trouble navigating Mo humournk’s tune.
Ellington’s “Creole Love Call” has a vocal by Margot Hanson which appears out of place on this album, it also has a trumpet solo by Jimmy Maxwell which echoes the original version in style. Thee album closes with Milligan’s “Ballade” arranged by Bob Brookmeyer this is a rewarding piece of music with a strong melody which Mulligan treats with tenderness but with enough steel so not to become over sentimental.
This is a distinguished album with brilliant playing by the band who must rehearse a lot or be fantastic readers. The cherry on the cake is of cause Mulligan whose playing and writing is superlative and his announcements are informative with a sense of humour.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
