McCoy Tyner - Extensions (rec. 1970, UA 1972) The cover design echoes the iconic graphics of the National Geographic journal, and pictures an assembly of African villagers, while the liner notes offer quotes from the Quaran (sic) and praise to Allah. I won't ponder on how some perceptions may have changed since. The music - four longish Tyner compositions - combines reserved intensity with great beauty, in that subtly exotic, modal vein which instantly evokes Coltrane and the 60's ferment. Alice Coltrane brings her harp, with Wayne Shorter, Gary Bartz, Ron Carter, and Elvin Jones. The recorded sound of Tyner's piano could have been a tad better served, but overall a deeply soul-satisfying record.
Dexter Gordon - One Flight Up (Blue Note reissue, rec. about 1965?) With Donald Bryd, Kenny Drew, Art Taylor, and an 18-year old Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson on bass, recorded in Paris. The highlight is Bryd's side-long "Tanya".
Gil Evans - Great Jazz Standards (orig. Pacific Jazz, rec. 1959) Listened all the way through a UA/Blue Note vinyl reissue from the mid-70's, then switched to a Capitol CD reissue from the late 80's. The mastering is night and day different (and neither is ideal), but the wonderfully colorful music is what sticks. Compositions from Bix Beiderbecke to Monk to Clifford Brown to John Lewis, but Evans' own "Theme" closer may be the most tantalizing cut of all. That great 'jazz orchestra' sound which propelled the classic Miles collaborations with Gil.
The Animals - Love Is (2LP, MGM, 1968) This one was from the other day. The last record made under that group's name before Burdon went solo, although the 'group' is in it's fourth or so version here. Guitarists are John Weider and Andy Summers (of Police fame, with erstwhile Big Roll Band compatriot Zoot Money on bass and keys). Averaging just two cuts per LP side, there's an excess of psychedelic noodling here as was the regrettable trend at the time, obscuring both some decent original tunes and a few ill-advised covers alike, but the three tracks on Side One (River Deep Mountain High, I'm An Animal, I'm Dying - Or Am I?) and some flashes elsewhere among the endearingly spacey jams indicate this could have been a killer single-disk album with some judicious pruning. Nevertheless, fans should pick this up if they find it cheap, but it's pretty uncommon, I'm guessing 'cause it probably didn't sell worth beans.
