Ok, so Miles’ Ascenceur pour l’echafaud and the above arrived today.
At the time of commencing this post disc one is playing, and has just reached the last track of Hip Harp,‘There’s a Small Hotel’.
A constant throughout these superb session, so far, as well as the absolutely adorable Ashby, is Frank Wess, pretty much exclusively on flute (he played sax as well).
The combo’ of harp and flute is just perfect. And both Ashby and Wess are fantastic musicians, never running out of fresh improvisatory moves.
And the rhythm sections – bassists Wendell Marshall, Eddie Jones and Herman Wright, and drummers Ed Thigpen, Art Taylor and Roy Haynes – are all top notch guys, meaning the whole ensemble, however constituted, is always steamin’!
Sadly the sequencing over the double CD set interrupts the flow of third album, In A Minor Groove. But whilst having to change disc may be a minor irritation, the music remains a major triumph.
The mix of standards (not so standards) and originals flows seamlessly. So Ashby proves herself not just brilliant a melodist, soloist and accompanist, but also a superb composer/arranger. The full package.
Five tracks from Soft Winds are also included, meaning another six tracks from that album are left out.
We had a little snackette/starter, of oriental steamed duck dumplings. With some kind of sauce. Lovely!
That was delicious. Almost as mouth watering as Dorothy and co.
Some readers (that’ll be me, then) will know I love the colour green. So get a load of this green vinyl edition of the already gorgeous In A Minor Groove. Too much, baby!
As I drool over the groovy greenery, CD two plays: the remainder of In A Minor Groove, all of her eponymous fourth album, and the five selections from Soft Winds.
After the fifth track on disc two, Frank Wess disappears from the mix. But despite this, at no point does the superb quality of music dip.
Whilst talking Wess, listening to these terrific recording inclines me towards exploring his recorded legacy further… and would t you know it? There’s a Frank Wess ‘Four Classic Albums’ set, also by Avid.
Tempted? Of course! With sidemen such as John Coltrane (Wheelin’ & Dealin’), Paul Chambers, and the Two Kennys (Clarke, drums; Burrell, guitar)? It’s a no brainer.