George Russell recordings after 1962

[jostber]

Hi,

I am a great fan of George Russells jazz records from the 50's and up to 1962 when "The Outer View" was released. I especially am fond of these CD's: "Stratusphunk", "Jazz in the Space Age" and "Jazz Workshop".

Has anyone heard this record and know if it is a good one?

http://www.georgerussell.com/80th.html

Are there other recordings from 1963 and onwards that can be recommended?

- Jostein

[Claude]

Hi,

I haven't heard the 80th birthday concert, but from post-1962 Russell I can recommend especially "At Beethoven Hall" (MPS, 1965, available as japan imports) and also "Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature 1968" and "Vertical Form VI" (1977) (both on Soul Note).

Edited November 15, 2006 by Claude

[JSngry]

Hi,

I haven't heard the 80th birthday concert, but from post-1962 Russell I can recommend especially "At Beethoven Hall" (MPS, 1965, available as japan imports) and also "Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature 1968" and "Vertical Form VI" (1977) (both on Soul Note).

Same here for all of this.

And I also very much like the Living Time collaboration w/Bill Evans.

Edited November 15, 2006 by JSngry

[king ubu]

I am more or less in the same boat as you, jostber, but I have "At Beethoven Hall" (Motor Music CD reissue from 1998 - got it from a marketplace seller on amazon.de) - that one is indeed excellent!

[paul secor]

George Russell lost me after the Beethoven Hall recording. I felt that his recordings lost a lot of their spontaneity after that. Just my opinion - I'm sure that there is an audience for his later recordings.

[brownie]

George Russell seems to have been searching for the right formula in his post-1962 recordings but there is still plenty of worthy material in most of his output.

One album that should be reinvestigated is the 'So What' date with the Living Time Orchestra that came out on BN!

[JohnS]

I've not heard a later George Russell album which compares with any of his pre 1962 things (Beethoven Hall excepted). Some aren't too bad but they don't do much for me when compare to his the Riversides, Decca and RCA recordings. The originality and excitement seems to be missing to my ears.

[Lazaro Vega]

Yes, I have heard the 80th Birthday concert and enjoy it -- the electric guitar is a strong solo voice on the album, there's a live version of "The African Game" and "Electric Sonata For Souls Loved By Nature" (the 3rd version of it now on record?), and a wispy, eerie vehicle for Palle Mikelborg (sp) in "Listen to the Silence." Russell is an important enough artist to investigate for his infrequent releases. Yes, some of the music on the 80th Birthday Concert goes on a bit too long, and some folks aren't tolerant of electronic textures in jazz, but this music is fine by me. If you want to hear it I can play it on the radio for you. Be sure to read the reviews in the page you linked above.

Edited November 15, 2006 by Lazaro Vega

[Adam]

I have the 80th birthday concert but haven't listened to it properly. Sorry. Will try to do so soon.

[jostber]

Thanks for all the good suggestions! I'll check out a couple of those. Has anyone heard of this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Live-American-Spir...TF8&s=music

[clifford_thornton]

I've not heard a later George Russell album which compares with any of his pre 1962 things (Beethoven Hall excepted). Some aren't too bad but they don't do much for me when compare to his the Riversides, Decca and RCA recordings. The originality and excitement seems to be missing to my ears.

Ditto for me too. Just couldn't get into/hold onto the Soul Notes, Contact (think that was the label - a Swedish concert from '70 or so) and Dutchman dates.

[king ubu]

brownie's post reminds me that I once passed up "So What" in a sale (too much synthy and very ugly overall sound, I thought) but did pick up "The African Game"... will have to go through some CD stacks to find that one and play it again, didn't leave that much of an impression, but I still liked it enough to pay some 6 or 7 $ for it, as opposed to "So What"...

[Nate Dorward]

I had a promo of 80th Birthday Concert for a bit (gave it away to someone on this board, I forget who). It basically seemed to me entirely of a piece with records like The London Concert, So What, & The African Game, to the point of total redundancy--the same pieces, & not really much to choose between versions (though the 80thBD album does have a very odd moment where the band drops into a lengthy uncredited lift from In a Silent Way).

Basically everything I've heard from Russell's post-Riverside career has been rather disappointing (though I haven't heard the two Soul Note discs which I gather are OK, nor the disc with Don Cherry from the 1960s). It's also disappointing that his compositional output has dried up to the point where he just seems to tinker with the same half dozen pieces over & over.

On the other hand basically all the early work is gold.

[JSngry]

Nobody's heard Living Time?

[Chuck Nessa]

Yup. Had the lp and now have a Japanese cd. It never "caught" me but I have it on principle. I have fond memories of the Soul Note date called "Trip to Prillargui". Also have fond memories of working with him at the Chicago Jazz Festival in the early '80s.

[Hot Ptah]

I am obviously in the minority here, but I like Russell's later Soul Note albums "New York Big Band" and "Live In An American Time Spiral".

I think that the first cut on "New York Big Band" is outstanding. It could be due to Stanley Cowell's performance rather than anything to do with Russell himself, but whatever the reason, I think it is a fine recording.

[Nate Dorward]

I am obviously in the minority here, but I like Russell's later Soul Note albums "New York Big Band" and "Live In An American Time Spiral".

I think that the first cut on "New York Big Band" is outstanding. It could be due to Stanley Cowell's performance rather than anything to do with Russell himself, but whatever the reason, I think it is a fine recording.

Yeah, I'm told those are probably the best of his later records. Haven't heard them. My doubts about latterday Russell mostly have to do with the immediately succeeding period (I've heard the two Blue Notes, the London Concert & 80th Birthday Concert, which mostly just chew over the same material repeatedly).

I should say that for anyone who's curious about The African Game at least the new disc includes it, which is useful as the Blue Note has been o/p for ages. Alas, no electric pencil sharpeners on the new version.

[erhodes]

I haven't heard the 80th birthday concert, but from post-1962 Russell I can recommend especially "At Beethoven Hall" (MPS, 1965, available as japan imports)...

I am more or less in the same boat as you, jostber, but I have "At Beethoven Hall" (Motor Music CD reissue from 1998 - got it from a marketplace seller on amazon.de) - that one is indeed excellent!

It might be worth noting that the original issue of "At Beethoven Hall" was, in fact, two lp's. I get a rough count of about 72 minutes between the two so it should fit on one cd but...

Also, jostber might want to know that Don Cherry is a "guest artist" on this set and Tootie Heath is the drummer. This is the only post '62 Russell that I own but I'm not the Russell fan that most of the other posters seem to be so pay me no mind.

[Fabio Baglioni]

I have found and collected a Tv-studio video session with..: George Russell with Thad Jones, Albert ''Thootie''Heath.,drums.. and other sidemen.,.Ciao fabio .,Roma .,.-

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