Customer Reviews

Illumination

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

 

 

I'm tempted to downgrade this a half-star simply because Impulse for some reason saw fit to release it in its original LP configuration, which totaled a mere 32 minutes. Given that the vast majority of CD releases today feature alternate takes and previously unreleased material, it seems "Illumination" would be a prime candidate for some beefing up. No such luck.

The fact is you feel the brevity of the CD keenly because what's here is so good, and I can't downgrade Jones and Garrison for the fact there isn't more of it. This is a smoking contemporary jazz set that brings together three-quarters of John Coltrane's famous quartet, backed by three superb and all-too-seldom-heard hornmen: Prince Lasha, Charles Davis, and Sonny Simmons.

Faint-of-heart hornmen have never needed to apply to play in front of Jones, and these three show they are up to the task of barging through the spirited challenge the drummer lays down. Lasha rips through the opener, "Nuttin' Out Jones," hanging in superbly when McCoy Tyner decides, as he often did when playing with Coltrane, to lay out and let the horn take on playing with Jones and Garrison alone.

Davis has a great baritone solo on "Half and Half," and the vastly underrated Sonny Simmons makes an eloquent, fiery statement on "Gettin' On Way." Along the way we get a dose of lyricism in "Oriental Flower," and an odd twist and musical union of the type Jones is fond of throwing in, with "Aborigine Dance in Scotland."

So what the heck: after the 32 minutes are over, you'll simply play the CD over again, and enjoy it just as much as you did the first time.

Illumination is basically the legendary John Coltrane Quartet, with three reed players standing in for Coltrane himself... which seems just about right! Here we have drummer Elvin Jones and bass player Jimmy Garrison utilizing an oportunity as leaders instead of their traditional sideman role. And, for Garrison, this would be his only instance playing this card. The tone is relaxed and the reed soloists (Prince Lasha on clarinet and flute, Sonny Simmons on alto sax and English horn, and Charles Davis on baritone sax) provide an interesting alternative to the bands usual boss. And of course that rhythm section (Elvin, Jimmy & McCoy) is just bad. You don't have to say nothin' about that. They just bad. Lastly, everyone but Elvin Jones throws in an original tune for good measure which makes the album even more unique. They didn't just play standards or other peoples songs. It's a shame that this group didn't exist more outside a few studio sessions...

What a totally fun album. Slightly into the "new thing" camp, but very, very entertaining. How often do you hear English horn in jazz?

Worth the price of admission for "Aborigines Dance in Scotland" alone. Kids will love this silly piece reminescent of Roland Kirk.

"Neglected gem" has become a cliche, but this is definitely a supremely enjoyable disc that deserves wider recognition. I do wish it were longer.

This Impulse! reissue features no new information about the session (and there are no extra tracks). I could've lived without the borderline idiotic original liner notes (nitwit first person thoughts devoid of depth or any understanding of music).

If you can get a decent used copy under ten bucks, do it!

I'm not too keen on 60's avant guard jazz, I prefer 50's jazz much more, however this album is a lot of fun from Jones and Garrison larking about on the cover through the linear notes to the music itself and its possible that the title was also a jab at other artists who took themselves too seriously. The album benefits from having an excellent rhythm section that is already a band so the tunes are pacy and keep their shape and the three additional wind instrument players know how to play avant guard without making it sound like a strangled cat. Like another reviewer has commented its a pity this combo didn't make any more records.

I guess John Coltrane's 1960s band knew things were going to get very heavy very soon in 1963, because they took a little time to themselves and recorded Illumanations.

Not that this is any light jazz album. It is Tyner Garrison and Jones working with reed players Prince Lasha and Sonny Simmons. There is also a baritone sax man named Charlie Davis.

This is basically hard pop and modal jazz, but with flutes, minor keys, and some very exotic dynamics. This is not a play the head and blow album--the arrangements are well thought out and the parts well written.

This is also not as heavy as a Coltrane album but that may have been the point. 1963: why not take a night before going into the avant-breech.

illumination is one of my favorite recordings of elvin. the instrumentation is also very interresting, balancing the subtle tones of a clarinet with a sax. (also, mccoy tyner is awesome.) i love aboriginie dance in scotland. elvin seems to flow from one bar to the next. half and half is another favorite. overall, an outstanding album.