How long has it been since the release of 'Piano Reductions Vol 1'? Exactly 13 years! Those who believed to never complete their Secret Jewel Box can be relieved for now. Modern Primitive will be the 7th installment in the box.

Defined as the missing link between Flex-Able and Passion & Warfare, the album will also be released as twin package with P & W. So get your box from the dust shelf and add another jewel. The originally planned recordings may not see the light of day but this is a good sign that a least the project will get a grand finale.

Image taken from stevevai.com.

Had to dig up my 30 year old Kenwood turntable to make this video. More on the Vinyl Williams recording later. Enjoy the color splatter for now.

Just before leaving the Ghent record fair without purchase, I discovered a crate with mint ECM records from a German vendor. All were reasonably priced at € 10. My budget was limited so I decided to go for 2 releases with Egberto Gismonti on, given the fact that I collect ECM records with the graphic design in mind they caught my eye.

First one is Gismonti's 1976 release 'Dança das Cabeças' teaming up with the late Nana Vasconcelos. The two wanted to create an atmosphere as walking through the rainforest keeping a distance between them, all the time communicating with their instruments and voices.

Second is 'Magico'. I think actually a recording filed under Garbarek's name. The trio with Charlie Haden stands for another ECM catalogue highlight. I must confess I always faverod Gismonti's piano playing over his guitar style. Both are of extreme beauty and personality but I never really got into his expression on guitar, until now. Time to study in more detail I guess.

Picked up this record from the bargain section for 8.95€. Double 180gr vinyl. The fun part was that I even didn't notice that John Scofield plays on this until I got home. At this great price and artwork I just couldn't resist.

The quartet plays originals by all members as wel as classics by The Doors (yes, Light my fire), Cream (yes, Sunshine of your love),  Jobim and Dylan (well yes, The times they are a-changin).

On the cover Byrd is surrounded by a kind of aureola to distinguish him from the dark, flattened background. It's hard to get a nice picture from this cover let me tell you.

It is not hard to enjoy this album, given you are in for some adventure. Two long funky jams who serve as magic carpet ride for soloing escapades and 'Jamie': a short, more melodic oriented piece. The album marks a point in time where jazz was searching for ways to define itself in a new era. An era where soul, funk and rock were at the forefront of music business. Thoughts go out to fellow trumpetist Miles Davis, equally exploring new possibilities along the way during those late sixties/early seventies.

Considered to be not that outstanding as previous albums of Byrd this remains a great album. Remarkably to me is the presence of Joe Sample and Wilton Felder from the popular group The Jazz Crusaders aka The Crusaders. Byrd's output has been extensively sampled by the acid-jazz and hip-hop generation. This one will probably be no exception to that.

Blue Note BST-84380
Recorded at A&M Studios August 25th & 26th, 1971

A side:

1. The Emperor
2. Jamie

B side:

1. The Little Rasti

Linger Lane is Bobby Hutcherson's 1975 offering on Blue Note. In search of (commercial?) success Hutcherson first plays through a couple of popular songs including 'People make the world go round' and the theme for the television series 'M*A*S*H', before switching to original compositions.

Playing however stays to laidback throughout the record as if nobody knows which direction it should really go. Stuck between smooth and free. A little bit odd is the marimba sound of Hutcherson on this recording. Most of the time it's feels like he is only playing the high range end of his instrument, producing a thin sound as if he was playing the xylophone, which is a pity. Expectations are not met on this recording, despite high carat players, what remains is a nice to have session anyway.

Recorded outdoors in Idylwild, California

A side:

1. People make the world go round
2. Theme from M*A*S*H
3. Ntu

B side:

1. Manzanita
2. Mountain Caravan
3. Silver Rondo