"Virgo Vibes" by Roy Ayers

[HWright]

While reading the AMG entry on Nat Adderley last night, I came upon an interesting description of a Roy Ayers Atlantic album from 1967 called "Virgo Vibes":

"Long before he switched to playing disco and pop music, Roy Ayers was considered a promising young jazz vibraphonist. This LP, his second as a leader, was one of his finest. On four of the five selections (obscurities and pieces by group members), Ayers teams up with trumpeter Charles Tolliver, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, bassist Reggie Workman, drummer Bruno Carr, and the mysterious pianist Ronnie Clark (Herbie Hancock under a disguised name). On "Glow Flower," Ayers and Tolliver are joined by Harold Land on tenor, pianist Jack Wilson, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer Donald Bailey. The music is primarily advanced hard bop with some freer moments on Tolliver's "The Ringer." This underrated music is long overdue to be reissued on CD and displays Roy Ayers' lost potential."

Anyone ever hear this on LP? Any thoughts? It would certainly be an excellent candidate for reissue by Koch or one of the other small labels that has been reissuing obscure Atlantic jazz dates.

Edited July 23, 2004 by HWright

[couw]

this has been released in digipac by Rhyno/Warner in 2002 and paired with Daddy Bug on Collectibles in 1999. Should still be available.

It is indeed a pretty good album.

[Noj]

I have the Collectibles twofer and dig it.

Then again, I like a lot of Roy's later r&b/funk tracks too. B)

[brownie]

I like that date. Have the Atlantic LP. Several problems with it, beside the album being an excellent one and worthy of a proper reissue:

- I have not cared much for Ayers albums after that one, but then I'm not into funk jazz,

- the LP is stored next to the Albert Aylers and every time I attempt to pull it out I see those Aylers and decide to give these a hearing,

- the notes from our friend Leonard Feather. OK this was 1967 but did he have to describe Ayers as a Virgo, Joe Henderson as a Taurus, Reggie Workman as a Cancer, etc... Feather signs his liner notes as Leonard Feather (Another Virgo)

Joe Henderson is superb on side A and so is Harold Land on side B!

[Noj]

Groovy baby, YEAH!

[DMP]

"Stoned Soul Picnic," from the same period, is also good. Parts of "Daddy Bug" were released on LP without the "sweetening" - that version has never made it to CD. (And catch Ayers on the Curtis Amy "Mosaiic Select.")

[JSngry]

Mighty fine stuff.

[HWright]

Couw:

Thanks for the info. I will look into picking it up.

[Hank]

The digipak version of Virgo Vibes has two bonus outtakes not included on the Collectables version, both from the date that included Harold Land.

I'd love to see Pacific Jazz release Ayers' West Coast Vibes!

[DMP]

Is Eric Dolphy on "West Coast Bibes?" I thought was on "United Artists," but that's all part of the Pacific Jazz/Blue Note/Captitol conglomerate these days.

[Dan Gould]

Is Eric Dolphy on "West Coast Bibes?" I thought was on "United Artists," but that's all part of the Pacific Jazz/Blue Note/Captitol conglomerate these days.

No. If I recall correctly, its Curtis Amy.

[Rooster_Ties]

The digipak version of Virgo Vibes has two bonus outtakes not included on the Collectables version, both from the date that included Harold Land.

How are the bonus tracks???

Are both Tolliver and Joe Henderson on both of the bonus tracks??

[ajf67]

No, the bonus tracks are with Harold Land. Toliver is on both though. Two tunes: "Mine Royd" and "Number Seven." This is a good album., I agree with the above.

Edited July 24, 2004 by ajf67

[kh1958]

David Newman's early 1970s Atlantic album Newmanism has fantastic Roy Ayers on it (in additional to sublime David Newman).

[Noj]

I dig that David Newman too, kh.

Also, Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Live At The Montreux Jazz Festival--falls in a transitional period between the more jazz-oriented early Roy to the latter funk/r&b-leaning Roy. Includes a cool version of "In A Silent Way."

[ghost of miles]

The digipak version of Virgo Vibes has two bonus outtakes not included on the Collectables version, both from the date that included Harold Land.

Is the digipack version available in the States? Can't seem to find it online.

[couw]

cduniverse lists it as an Australian import, albeit that they're showing the cover for Daddy Bug. And there some listed on half.com as well (or so it seems).

[Hank]

Amazon UK has the digipak version listed. I've had many good dealings with them, though the shipping's a little high. I see that half.com has it listed also. And Tower online has it as a special order.

[marcoliv]

Roy Ayers

it´s available there too

MCO

[Tom in RI]

I bought the digipac version earlier this year from a shop that I know ordered it from a company that deals in discontinued and overstock.

[ralphie_boy]

Virgo Vibes is indeed a very good date! BTW - I believe that Herbie Hancock is in the piano chair under an assumed name.

[brownie]

Virgo Vibes is indeed a very good date! BTW - I believe that Herbie Hancock is in the piano chair under an assumed name.

You may be on to something. This seems to be pianist Ronnie Clark's only record date. The only thing that Leonard Feather mentions about him in the liner notes is that he 'is an Aries with a brillantly original style'.

Herbie Hancock was born April 12, 1940. An Aries!

[couw]

Virgo Vibes is indeed a very good date!  BTW - I believe that Herbie Hancock is in the piano chair under an assumed name.

You may be on to something. This seems to be pianist Ronnie Clark's only record date. The only thing that Leonard Feather mentions about him in the liner notes is that he 'is an Aries with a brillantly original style'.

Herbie Hancock was born April 12, 1940. An Aries!

read the AMG quote in the very first post in this thread, it seems to be common knowledge that we're indeed dealing with Hancock here.

[DMP]

Ayers is also on Newman's "Lonely Avenue" - nice.

[brownie]

OK, have to admit I did not read the very first post carefully enough. Probably a mention of AMG scared me away