Customer Reviews

Electronic Sonata 1968

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

George Russell occupies a very important place in jazz history on many levels, most importantly his influence on Dizzy Gillespie to include latin rhythms in his writing in the 50s. But _Electronic Sonata..._ is another landmark. I was pointed to this recording by Kodwo Eshun's awesome book _More Brilliant Than The Sun: Adventures in Sonic Fiction_. Over thirty years ago, George Russell was exploring the inner space as well as the outer space of jazz. He mixes a taped performance with a live performance and the result is astounding. Also, the incredible Jan Garbarek can be heard here at an early age. GO GET THIS RECORD if you like things like Sun Ra, P-FUNK, or Stockhausen, among other things.

Outstanding! but then again it was the 70's when chances are you will have a great album.
I'm not much on writing reviews. I just know out of my 6,700 jazz Cd collection this CD
probably ranks about 340 out of 6,700.

This album is neither as heavy or out there as you may gleen from the title.

Basically, George Russel sets the suite up here using a simple blues line, but the horns run comblex subtitutions through this pattern. The piece strolls into some free impovasation--no steady beat so you are floating in space-then reestablishes the inital line.

There is a fantastically recorded organ part, and eletronics subtlely placed through the piece. This is not free or soul jazz, but one of those projects from a master eccentric who takes elements from all kinds of both music and subgenres of jazz.

Absolutely great record for fans of conventional or avant jazz.