Drummer Elvin Jones was a true force of nature. One of the stupidest things I’ve ever done in my life was to leap out of my seat at Keystone Korner at the end of a set by the Jazz Machine in the late Seventies and shake the hand of Elvin Jones as he walked straight to the bar. I hadn’t reckoned with the sheer strength of the man right after he was done playing. I thought my hand would crumble into dust. A new Blue Note release, Revival: Live At Pookie’s Pub, is a potent reminder of the power and volcanic energy of Mr. Jones with just one tune: the opening 21-minute rendition of Keiko’s Birthday Song. After Joe Farrell on tenor and Billy Greene at the piano have their says, Elvin embarks on a fabulous long drum solo, one of the greatest displays of his poly-rhythmic and forceful style I’ve ever heard. The first track alone is a treasure, but there’s a whole lot more to enjoy on this compilation drawn from three nights at the small and obscure New York City venue. The origin of the tapes is a cool story, told by Bob Falesch, who met Jones one night while wandering into Pookie’s one night. While sitting a few feet away from the floor tom-tom, Falesch and Jones seemed to make some kind of unspoken connection. Falesch writes that “At the end of the set, he came right over, sat down next to me, and ordered another drink.” The pair proceeded to have a long chat, and after Falesch mentioned his job at Ampex Stereo Tapes, the drummer suggested coming back to the pub sometime to record the proceedings. Falesch took him up on his offer, and here we are, fifty-five years later and the music is finally out there. To put these performances into a key aspect of the historical context, it’s critical to note that John Coltrane had died earlier in the month, on July 17. Jones, of course, played in Coltrane’s group from 1960-early 1966, and ‘Trane’s death must have weighed heavily on him when these performances were recorded near the end of the month with Joe Farrell on tenor sax and flute, the obscure Billy Greene on piano, and Wilbur Little on bass. Revival is another Zev Feldman production, and he’s outdone himself for the documentation this time around. The centerpiece is a lengthy essay by Ashley Kahn on the background of Pookie’s Pub and the circumstances of Elvin Jones’ long residency there, from May 1967 through the end of the year. He also talked to musicians who dropped by to visit or sit in about their memories of the room and their feelings about Elvin Jones. Kahn’s long piece includes quotes about Elvin and the scene at Pookie’s from bassists Richard Davis and Gene Perla, saxophonist George Coleman, trumpeters Jimmy Owens and Randy Brecker and drummer Jimmy Madison. In his own series of interviews, Feldman has talked to drummers Alvin Queen and Michael Shrieve, who tells a great story about meeting Jones and bassist Jimmy Garrison in the Coltrane quartet by crashing through a skylight into their dressing room. There are also reminiscences by Elvin Jones alums Perla, Pat LaBarbera and Dave Liebman, as well as pianist Richie Beirach, who lived across the street from Pookie’s. Every story I’ve ever heard, and the recollections of these musicians, paints a picture of a caring and intelligent man who just happened to be one of the greatest drummers in jazz history. Give a listen to Revival: Live At Pookie’s Pub and you’ll surely agree. Absolutely recommended.
Blue Note (cd, vinyl); Joe Farrell (ts, fl) Billy Greene or Larry Young* (p) Wilbur Little (b) Elvin Jones (d); NYC, July 28-30, 1967; Disc 1 (75:05): Keiko’s Birthday March/ Gingerbread Boy*/ 13 Avenue B/ My Funny Valentine/ M.E. Disc 2 (58:26): On the Trail/ Softly as in a Morning Sunrise/ Raunchy Rita/ Oleo. www.bluenote.com
No comments:
Post a Comment