I love "Live Evil" and maybe it's my favourite of those live 2CD sets... can't wait for the box to appear!
The short tracks don't really belong in there, I think, except for that one 5 or so minute long one with McLaughlin, that's pretty good.
The Jack Johnson set has the full date with Hermeto Pascoal attached, I think just before the original album mix. Quite nice stuff, but not really in company of the soaring "Live Evil" material.
Have just finished a listen to this one:
I think it's a craftsmanlike disc, good tunes, good arrangements, good musicians (Varner, Eskelin, Drew Gress, Tom Rainey, and Ed Jackson on alto - never heard him before). The music changes from J.B.-funk to out-ish (not really out) styles, and there are very good solos by all involved. Ed Jackson is quite nice, would like to hear more of him. Eskelin can do no wrong in my book, and the rhythm team is great. Varner himself is an astonishing musician, for sure!
However, all in all the disc leaves me lukewarm, somehow - might have as much to do with production and sound of it, as it has with the actual music.
ubu