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  | JOE ZAWINUL ~ THE RISE & FALL OF THE THIRD STREAM / MONEY IN THE POCKET
RHINO 71675 (Barcode: 081227167523) ~ AUSTRIA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1965 - 1967 Released: 1994
Joe ZawinulFind albums by this artist arrived in the US in 1958, after being one of the first European musicians to win a scholarship to Berklee, but he left the school almost immediately and became active on the US jazz scene as pianist, arranger and composer. He played with Maynard FergusonFind albums by this artist, Slide HamptonFind albums by this artist and Dinah WashingtonFind albums by this artist before landing on the piano chair with Cannonball AdderleyFind albums by this artist’s quintet, where he stayed for 9 years (1961-1969). Towards the end of his Adderley days Zawinul played for almost 2 years (1969-1970) with Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, participating in the seminal recordings Miles made at that period.
In 1970 Zawinul formed the legendary Weather ReportFind albums by this artist, which would revolutionize the jazz and fusion genres and continue (in a slightly different direction) the pioneering breakthroughs made by Davis. Over the years Zawinul recorded only three albums as a leader (on AtlanticFind albums on this label and VortexFind albums on this label), two of which are included here (The eponymous album from 1969 was really the starting point for Weather Report). Money In The PocketFind albums with this title, recorded in 1965, finds him in a setting similar to his Adderley’s quintet gig both musically and personally. He uses the quintet’s bass player (Sam JonesFind albums by this artist) and drummer (Louis HayesFind albums by this artist) and adds three excellent horn players: Blue MitchellFind albums by this artist (trumpet), Joe HendersonFind albums by this artist (tenor sax) and Pepper AdamsFind albums by this artist (baritone sax). The sextet plays a great set of bebop material, including mostly original material by Zawinul, Jones and Henderson and two standards. Zawinul’s elegant and soulful piano playing sets a firm basis for the music’s graceful flow.
The Rise & Fall Of The Third StreamFind albums with this title, recorded in 1967, is a completely different album and a most ambitious and pioneering jazz venture for the time. It involves a meeting between the American jazz tradition and the European classical tradition, but as the title suggests it was meant to be a new kind of synthesis to the one attempted earlier in the US by Gunther SchullerFind albums by this artist and named “The Third Stream”, which seemed to be forced and artificial rather than natural. A meeting between Zawinul and American classical composer William FisherFind albums by this artist led to the two of them working together in an attempt to create a natural synthesis of the two musical worlds. The project involved a jazz ensemble and a string quartet, playing music composed and arranged by Fisher. The jazz ensemble includes Zawinul on acoustic and electric piano, Jimmy OwensFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Richard DavisFind albums by this artist on bass, Roy McCurdyFind albums by this artist and Freddie WaitsFind albums by this artist on drums, Warren SmithFind albums by this artist on percussion and Fisher on tenor sax. The result is a stunning piece of music, a completely new and previously attempted kind of musical vista.
In retrospect one can of course hear the seeds of what Zawinul will be doing just a couple of years later with Davis and then Weather Report. Although sadly overlooked and rarely mentioned, this is a seminal album in every respect and surely ahead of its time in every respect. For the intelligent jazz lover, interested in the forces that forged the jazz revolution of the late 1960s this is an absolute must!
| | Updated: 09/01/2025Posted: | CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | DAVE PIKE ~ THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION
WOUNDED BIRD 2007 (Barcode: 664140200722) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1967 Released: 2007
When this little gem was finally released by the adventurous VortexFind albums on this label label (a subsidiary of AtlanticFind albums on this label), after being recorded a few years earlier, US vibraphonist Dave PikeFind albums by this artist had already moved to Europe, following the footsteps of many US Jazz players who felt stifled by the local scene, which was nonresponsive to innovation and outright hostile to forward musical ideas. In Europe Pike formed the wonderful Dave Pike SetFind albums by this artist and recorded a series of superb albums for the legendary MPSFind albums on this label label. This is the last album he recorded before leaving for Europe and it is weird in every sense as much as it is revolutionary. The use of electronic effects and studio trickery, overlaid on top of straightforward (more or less) Jazz playing was surely quite innovative at the time. He assembled a wonderful team of musicians with saxophonist Lee KonitzFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / clarinetist Eddie DanielsFind albums by this artist, pianist Don FriedmanFind albums by this artist, bassist Chuck IsraelFind albums by this artist and drummer Arnie WiseFind albums by this artist. Pike wrote all the music performed here, which is quite diverse, including (among others) early Jazz-Rock attempts, improvised moments and ballads – all quite excellent and interesting. Although quite obscure, this is a great album, highly worth investigating, which will probably surprise even the most knowledgeable Jazz freaks.
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