Customer Reviews

Last of the Line

5 star:		(2)
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I would argue that the late Woody Shaw is the last truly unique trumpet innovator to date. While his cubist compositions help forge what I call the second wave of impressionism of modern jazz during the 70s (including McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter) his trumpet style had an innovative harmonic approach combined with an aggressive rhythmic attack, gorgeous sound, and sensitive lyricism. Love Dance covers the gamut from burning down the house up tempos to dreamy slow pretty ballad. It also features some great work by Tenor saxophone legend Billy Harper and rarely heard alto monster Rene McLean(son of Jackie). The other CD, Casandrite, which would be worth owning by itself, features a band with the legendary Joe Henderson - need I say more!

My primary interest in this excellent set is in the first disc, which comprises material originally issued on the Muse label in the 1980s. Issued variously as CASSANDRANITE and IN THE BEGINNING, this disc represents (with the exception of the final track, extracted from a later Joe Chambers session) Woody Shaw's first recordings done under his own leadership. The tunes are boiler-plate, cutting edge hardbop, performed by an all-star quintet including Shaw on trumpet, Joe Henderson on tenor sax, Joe Chambers on drums, and either Larry Young or Herbie Hancock as pianist; Ron Carter or Paul Chambers as bassist. Shaw, Henderson, and Young all contribute first-class material to the session.

It perplexes me that this recording, made in 1966, had to wait more than 20 years for its first release. Apparently Blue Note producer Alfred Lion saw fit to pass on this, although its personnel roster reads like a Blue Note jamboree; indeed, both Shaw and Henderson were at that time sidemen with Horace Silver's band, and both had very recently participated memorably on Larry Young's UNITY. Here one hears and understands why the two horn players were about to part company with Silver and take their music another step forward.

This is an essential recording of its time, though I've never seen it acknowledged as such. As LAST OF THE LINE falls out of circulation, it may again be a long time before it is again reissued, so get it while you can.