Tag Archives: Jack DeJohnette

Listening Room – “Moon Germs”

Posted on by
1

This 1973 release by Joe Farrell on CTI was his attempt to throw his hat into the ring of electric jazz and he made quite a statement when he did.  Joined by Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke and Jack DeJohnette, “Moon Germs” finds Farrell leading the talented group on three Chick Corea penned tracks and one written by Clarke (Bass Folk Song).  The music is angular and (for the time) very adventurous.  While CTI is often maligned for Creed Taylor’s use of “big” production, “Moon Germs” has none of that and the record is a great example of early jazz fusion at its best.

Moon Germs
Buy at Amazon

Released 1973  :  CTI Records  :  Catalog # 6023

Players:
Joe Farrell – Soprano Sax, Flute
Herbie Hancock – Piano
Stanley Clarke – Bass
Jack DeJohnette – Drums

Joe Farrell – Great Gorge from “Moon Germs”

Joe Farrell – Bass Folk Song from “Moon Germs”

Listening Room – “Straight Life”

Posted on by
Reply

Released in 1970, “Straight Life” came out in between the more well known Hubbard albums “Red Clay” and “First Light”.  While I will always be partial to “Red Clay” for personal reasons (it is one of the first jazz albums I ever bought), “Straight Life” may be Hubbard’s greatest CTI recording.  The all-star group (Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, George Benson, Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette) were all very familiar with each other by this point in their careers and play off each other with ease.   All are on the same page playing the post-bop fusion selections that Hubbard chose for these sessions including his own classic compostition, the title track Straight Life.

Straight Life
Buy at Amazon

Released 1970  :  CTI Records  :  Catalog # 6007

Players:
Freddie Hubbard – Trumpet
Joe Henderson – Tenor Sax
Herbie Hancock – Piano
George Benson – Guitar
Ron Carter – Bass
Jack DeJohnette – Drums

Freddie Hubbard – Straight Life from “Straight Life”

Freddie Hubbard – Mr. Clean from “Straight Life”

Listening Room – “Tetragon”

Posted on by
Reply

Tetragon

Joe Henderson – Invitation

Joe Henderson – First Trip

From “Tetragon“: 1968 : Milestone MSP 9017

Released in 1968 on Milestone Records, “Tetragon” is credited to the Joe Henderson Quartets, as it features two different rhythm sections over the course of the record.  Henderson and Ron Carter are featured on all tracks, while Kenny Barron and Don Friedman trade off on piano as do Jack DeJohnette and Louis Hayes on drums.  Invitation features DeJohnette and Friedman, while Carter’s composition First Trip features Barron and Hayes.

Players:
Joe Henderson – Tenor Sax
Ron Carter – Bass
Kenny Barron – Piano
Don Friedman – Piano
Louis Hayes – Drums
Jack DeJohnette – Drums

Listening Room – “Power To The People”

Posted on by
Reply

Power To The People

Joe Henderson – Afro-Centric

Joe Henderson – Power To The People

This 1969 release by Joe Henderson on Milestone Records is a fantastic example of early jazz fusion.  Featuring some of the top progressive players of the era, including Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Jack DeJohnette and of course Joe Henderson, “Power To The People” stands up with the best fusion albums that Hancock and Miles Davis produced during this creative period in jazz.

Players:
Joe Henderson – Tenor Sax
Mike Lawrence – Trumpet
Herbie Hancock – Piano, Fender Rhodes
Ron Carter – Bass
Jack DeJohnette – Drums

Listening Room – “Demon’s Dance”

Posted on by
Reply

Demon's Dance

Jackie McLean – “Demon’s Dance”

Jacke McLean – “Floogeh”

From “Demon’s Dance” : 1967 : Blue Note

Jackie McLean recorded “Demon’s Dance” for Blue Note in 1967.  The title track is a classic and the up-tempo Floogeh is one of many highlights of a great record.  Amazingly, this was McLean’s final Blue Note recording, ending an amazing streak of nearly ten years and over twenty consistently high-quality records for the label.

Players:
Jackie McLean – Alto Sax
Woody Shaw – Trumpet
Lamont Johnson – Piano
Scott Holt – Bass
Jack DeJohnette – Drums