Another in an occasional series…
Bill Evans, Quintessence (Fantasy/Original Jazz Classics)
An early ’90s reissue of a May 1976 session. The pianist, four years prior to his death, leads a quintet with Harold Land on tenor sax, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Ray Brown on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums — leading off with a Kenny Wheeler tune, of all things, called “Sweet Dulcinea Blue.” This is a find.
Evans featured Philly Joe on his 1958 trio masterpiece, Everybody Digs Bill Evans, and again on the incredible Interplay session of 1962 (with Jim Hall, Freddie Hubbard and Percy Heath). On Quintessence, Evans, decked out in full ’70s beard, reunites with the drummer and makes magic. He turns in one of his bluesiest performances on Kenny Burrell’s “Bass Face,” based on “I Got Rhythm” changes.
Handel, Organ Concertos (Hyperion, 1997)
Featuring the Brandenburg Consort with organist Paul Nicholson and harpsichordist/director Roy Goodman. Eleven concertos for organ, one for harp (performed by Frances Kelly). Music of melodic purity and relentless forward motion. Excellent sound.
From Kyoto to Tokyo: Japan (PlayaSound)
Music for shakuhachi flute, koto (long zither) and shamisen (a type of lute). Some solo, some in combination. Peaceful like you wouldn’t believe, but stimulating, not catatonic. This is one volume in a world music series that spans from Polynesia to Mexico, China to Brazil, Africa to the U.S.
David Binney, Out of Airplanes (pre-release download from davidbinney.com)
A great New York alto saxophonist, composer and bandleader, fronting an ensemble with Bill Frisell on guitar, Craig Taborn on piano/organ/synths, Eivind Opsvik on acoustic and electric basses and Kenny Wolleson on drums and percussion. Adam Rogers plays additional guitar on two tracks. “London By Night,” a knotty acoustic piece with a staggering Taborn solo, is download-only. Compositionally and sonically advanced work, as always, from Binney, one of the big and underrated talents.
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