Bennie Maupin

[clifford_thornton]

:tup

The title cut, my favorite on the album (and one of my favorite Brown tunes period) does not feature Maupin, fwiw.

[Trumpet Guy]

Maybe not your cup of tea, but Maupin also plays well on two '60s Marion Brown sides, Marion Brown Quartet (ESP) and Juba-Lee (Fontana), not to mention the Brown ECM date.

Edited July 11, 2007 by Trumpet Guy

[mikeweil]

Good news here!

[Trumpet Guy]

I guess I'll stay confused!!? Clifford_Thornton?

would dig to hear that Juba-Lee now...

[erhodes]

Confusing to me--recently bought Marion Brown Quartet on ESP(Thanks Lon--Great!)--I hear no Bennie Maupin.In fact he's not listed on the cover--only in the 'liner notes"...I just listened! Great record though!

The original lp had Maupin on one track, "Exhibition". Most of the early cd reissues, such as the ZYX, substituted a version of Alan Shorter's "Mephistopheles" - the same composition he recorded on Wayne Shorter's "All Seeing Eye" - without documenting this in the liner notes. There is also apparently a Fontana-ESP lp, Fontana ESP-DISK' SFJL.930 (UK), that does the "Mephistopheles" switch. The latest ESP reissue has both tracks.

[Trumpet Guy]

Confusing to me--recently bought Marion Brown Quartet on ESP(Thanks Lon--Great!)--I hear no Bennie Maupin.In fact he's not listed on the cover--only in the 'liner notes"...I just listened! Great record though!

The original lp had Maupin on one track, "Exhibition". Most of the early cd reissues, such as the ZYX, substituted a version of Alan Shorter's "Mephistopheles" - the same composition he recorded on Wayne Shorter's "All Seeing Eye" - without documenting this in the liner notes. There is also apparently a Fontana-ESP lp, Fontana ESP-DISK' SFJL.930 (UK), that does the "Mephistopheles" switch. The latest ESP reissue has both tracks.

Thanks Ed! I'm still confused--my CD is an ZYX...It has 3 cuts--one of which is "Exhibition"--no "Mephisopheles"--I don't hear Maupin on Exhibition...Should I listen again?

[Trumpet Guy]

Maybe he's in that melody? but no solo!!! Weird!

I hear alto sax--cup mute trumpet(cornet) +?

[erhodes]

Thanks Ed! I'm still confused--my CD is an ZYX...It has 3 cuts--one of which is "Exhibition"--no "Mephisopheles"--I don't hear Maupin on Exhibition...Should I listen again?

Maybe he's in that melody? but no solo!!! Weird!

I hear alto sax--cup mute trumpet(cornet) +?

I haven't listened to the track that's supposed to be "Mephistopheles" but, as I understand it, the alto/trumpet track you are referring to is that title. My reference for this is here. Here is the entry for this recording.

Marion Brown: Marion Brown Quartet

November 1965

New York City

In November 1965, Marion Brown recorded two sessions for ESP-DISK', featuring Alan Shorter, Rashied Ali, Reggie Johnson and Ronnie Boykins on Marion Brown's compositions "Capricorn Moon", "27 Cooper Square" and "Exhibition", as well as one composition by Alan Shorter, "Mephistopheles". For "Exhibition", Bennie Maupin was added to the line-up. "Mephistopheles" was left off of initial pressings of the LP because it was thought to be Wayne Shorter's composition, replacing "Exhibition" on subsequent issues of the recordings though the track listing on the LP cover and disk labels remained unchanged.

The first series of releases (a-g) contain the three Marion Brown compositions:

(a) ESP-DISK' 1022 (US) [released 1966] [cover]

(b) ESP-DISK' 1022 STEREO (US) [released 1966] [cover]

1. Capricorn Moon (Marion Brown)

2. 27 Cooper Square (Marion Brown)

3. Exhibition (Marion Brown)

Marion Brown (as)

Alan Shorter (tp) (tracks 1, 2)

Bennie Maupin (ts) (track 3)

Reggie Johnson (b)

Ronnie Boykins (b) (track 1)

Rashied Ali (dr, perc)

* White front label; b/w back label: Photo of Marion Brown, taken from the cover. Address on white label: ESP-DISK', 180 Riverside Dr., New York 10024; Address on back cover: ESP-DISK', 180 Riverside Drive, New York 10024.

* Bennie Maupin is spelled "Benny Maupin" on the cover.

* No track times given on the labels and covers.

© ESP-DISK' 1022 (US) [released 1966] [cover]

(d) ESP-DISK' 1022 STEREO (US) [released 1966] [cover]

* Address on both white labels: ESP-DISK', 156 5th Avenue, New York 10010; Address on back cover: ESP-DISK', 180 Riverside Drive, New York 10024.

* Same cover as (a, b).

(e) Fontana ESP-DISK' SFJL.930 (UK) [released 1967] [cover]

* Same tracks and personnel as (a-d).

* Vinyl weight varies.

(f) ESP-DISK' STEREO 1022 (US) [released ?] [cover, back cover]

* Same as (a-d), but vinyl put in monaural cover with red "STEREO" sticker on front cover.

* New pressing on thinner vinyl (138 gram)

* Address on both white labels: ESP-DISK', 156 5th Avenue, New York 10010; Address on back cover: ESP-DISK', 180 Riverside Drive, New York 10024.

(g) ESP-DISK' STEREO 1022 (US) [released 1972] [cover, back cover]

* Same as (a-d), but "Marion Brown" added in white uppercase on front cover and new address on back cover: ESP-DISK', Acorn Hill House, Krumville, New York 12447.

* No catalogue number printed on back cover.

* New pressing on thinner vinyl (119 gram).

* Address on both white labels: ESP-DISK', 156 5th Avenue, New York 10010; stereo label on A-Side ("STEREO 1022"), monaural label on B-Side ("1022").

On later issues (h-p) "Exhibition" was replaced by Alan Shorter's "Mephistopheles" though on most releases the track is still called "Exhibition" (with the exception of (h)) and the personnel listing still includes Bennie Maupin:

(h) ESP-DISK'/Nippon Phonogram BT-5008 (J) [released 1975] [cover, back cover]

1. Capricorn Moon (Marion Brown)

2. 27 Cooper Square (Marion Brown)

3. Mephistopheles (Alan Shorter)

Marion Brown (as)

Alan Shorter (tp)

Reggie Johnson (b)

Ronnie Boykins (b) (track 1)

Rashied Ali (dr, perc)

* "Exhibition" replaced by "Mephistopheles" on track 3.

* Bennie Maupin is erroneously listed in addition to Alan Shorter on track 3 on the cover and the disk labels.

* "Mephistopheles" is erroneously credited to Marion Brown.

* No track times given on the cover and disk labels.

(i) ESP.DISK/BASE ESPS 1022 (I) [released 1980] [cover photo, back cover photo]

1. Capricorn Moon [22:18] (Marion Brown)

2. 27 Cooper Square [3:45] (Marion Brown)

3. Mephistopheles [18:08] (Alan Shorter)

* Same tracks and personnel as (h).

* Track listing and personnel on the cover is the same as (a-d) (incorrect), but with track times added on the labels.

(j) ESP.DISK/BASE ESPS 1022 (I)

* Same as (i) but with "AGENDA EDIZIONI MUSICALI (P) 1966" on the labels.

(k) ESP.DISK/BASE ESPS 1022 (I)

* Same as (i, j) but different label design.

* Track 2 is printed "Twenty Seven Cooper Square".

(l) ESP/ZYX 1022-2 (D) (CD) [cover]

* Same tracks and personnel as (h).

* Track listing on the cover is the same as (a-d) (incorrect), with track times added.

* Correct listing of personnel on the cover.

(m) ESP-DISK'/Venus TKCZ-79106 (J) (CD) [released 1993] [cover, back cover]

1. Capricorn Moon [22:18] (Marion Brown)

2. 27 Cooper Square [3:45] (Marion Brown)

3. Mephistopheles [18:08] (Alan Shorter)

* Same tracks and personnel as (h).

* Track listings on the disc, back cover and in booklet are the same as (a-d) (incorrect).

* Bennie Maupin is erroneously listed on track 3 on back cover and in booklet.

* Address on disc: ESP-DISK', 290 West End Ave, N.Y., N.Y. 10023.

(n) ESP-DISK'/Abraxas 1022 (I) (CD) [released 2002] [cover]

* Same tracks and personnel as (h).

* Track listing and personnel on the cover is the same as (a-d) (incorrect).

* Track times on the cover differ from (i-k).

(o) ESP/Get Back GET 1051 (I) (180 gram virgin vinyl) [released 2002]

1. Capricorn Moon [22:28] (Marion Brown)

2. 27 Cooper Square [3:49] (Marion Brown)

3. Mephistopheles [18:15] (Alan Shorter)

* Same tracks and personnel as (h).

* Track listing on the cover is the same as (a-d) (incorrect).

* Track times on labels differ from (i-k).

(p) ESP-Disk' ESPCD 1022 (US) (CD) [released 2003] [cover, back cover]

* Same tracks and personnel as (h).

* Track listing on the cover is the same as (a-d) (incorrect).

* Correct listing of personnel on the cover.

* "Marion Brown Quintet" on the back cover.

(q) ESP-Disk' ESP 4011 (US) (CD) [released August 2, 2005] [cover, back cover]

1. Capricorn Moon [23:02] (Marion Brown)

2. 27 Cooper Square [3:53] (Marion Brown)

3. Exhibition [17:59] (Marion Brown)

4. Mephistopheles [18:41] (Alan Shorter)

Marion Brown (as)

Alan Shorter (tp) (tracks 1, 2, 4)

Bennie Maupin (ts) (track 3)

Reggie Johnson (b)

Ronnie Boykins (b) (track 1)

Rashied Ali (dr, perc)

* Exhibition as on (a-g).

* Mephistopheles as on (h).

* "27 Cooper Square" appears on ESP-DISK' Sampler: Vol. I (ESP 1033)

* An excerpt appears on The ESP Sampler (ESP 1051)

Source: KMS, CJ, HM

[Trumpet Guy]

Ed, thank you very much for all that!!! Much appreciated!

You are right! The cut marked as "Exhibition" on my CD is truly Mephistopheles"--I listened to Wayne's "All seeing eye" to compare. I'm diggin' Alan Shorter!! He sounds a bit like Norman Howard's brother

[Claude]

It would be so great having Maupin's two Mercury albums from 1977 and 1978, Slow Traffic To The Right and Moonscapes on CD. I have them only as crappy vinyl rips on MP3, and these are among the albums I listen to most with my MP3 player. Great outdoor summer music

http://www.discogs.com/release/1051596

http://www.discogs.com/release/1130469

BTW, the Mike Nock "Almanac" CD is also becoming hard to find.

Edited May 9, 2008 by Claude

[Claude]

I was ready to bid up to $20 for a VG+ copy of "Slow Traffic To The Right", but the auction ended at $44 ...

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...em=330236062869

[Kari S]

I love the track "Water Torture" from "Slow Traffic...". I think it's superior to "Moonscapes" anyway. Well, besides cover art Moonscapes has tracks like the Rahsaan Kirk tribute which, inexplicably, fades out just as it's getting going. Isn't it on Arista? Probably some producer's idea to keep the music more "accessible" . I remember Pharoah Sanders had a similar album, "Love Will Find A Way", which was supposed to be "more commercial"...

[ejp626]

I guess it got lost in the shuffle, but Jewel in the Lotus was definitely released on CD, as well as MP3s on Amazon. Not only that, it and the Dewey Redman ECM re-issue are on yourmusic. Was pretty surprised to see that (fairly soon after their release), so I jumped on them.

[mikeweil]

I guess it got lost in the shuffle, but Jewel in the Lotus was definitely released on CD, as well as MP3s on Amazon.

The CD reissue sounds good, and I think it is still the best of his albums as a leader. Beautiful album.

As a sideman, Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi & Crossings would be my top choices.

[BillF]

He made a very competent Silver sideman on Horace's You Gotta Take a Little Love. The only time I saw him play was with the Crusaders in the early 80s.

[Mark Stryker]

He made a very competent Silver sideman on Horace's You Gotta Take a Little Love. The only time I saw him play was with the Crusaders in the early 80s.

Here's video of Bennie playing "Nutville" with Horace in 1968 with Bill Hardman, John B. Williams and Billy Cobham.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Mxfix2NuWNw

[Shrdlu]

His bass clarinet work on "Bitches Brew" was stunningly original. As someone said, he was almost part of the rhythm section on that.

[six string]

I picked up Bennie's new one, Early Reflections a few weeks ago and I can't stop playing it. It is one of the best "new" releases I've heard in a long time. He does a new version of The Jewel in the Lotus which is good. Overall it's a softer, more, dare I say reflective sound, but boring it isn't. The simpatico of the musicians, a young Polish group really makes the album special. Everyone has big ears on this recording and it shows. If you like The Jewel of the Lotus album, I highly recomend this one.

Edited November 25, 2008 by six string

[Chas]

His bass clarinet work on "Bitches Brew" was stunningly original. As someone said, he was almost part of the rhythm section on that.

I'm not prepared to wade through 5 pages, so sorry if this repeats what someone has said, but Benny was stunning on bass clarinet on "Bitches' Brew". It was kinda like part of the rhythm section, and easily the best bass clarinet since Eric Dolphy.

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[Shrdlu]

Who's embarrassed? I don't give a hoot, lol. But I did spot the duplication, and deleted the second post, which you have now preserved.

By the way, I do hate it when someone posts a very long thing, sometimes with a bunch of large pictures, and the entire thing gets repeated in a reply. Often, it's even the very next post!