Elvin Jones - On The Mountain (1975)

01.Thorn Of Aa White Rose (5:09)

02.Namuh (7:50)

03.On The Mountain (4:40)

04.Smoke In The Sun (4:06)

05.London Air (5:35)

06.Destiny (7:29).

Jan Hammer - keyboards

Gene Perla - bass

Elvin Jones - drums.

This 1975 date for the brilliant drummer, with Jan Hammer on keyboards and bassist Gene Perla, is a minor, if somewhat overlooked, classic from the tail-end of the early '70s to the mid-70s' run of great jazz fusion releases. Both Perla and Hammer worked with Elvin Jones between 1971 and 1973, in bands featuring saxophonists Frank Foster, Joe Farrell, Steve Grossman and Dave Liebman. Here, the smaller format allows for a tight group sound with openings for strong solos and fluid interplay throughout. Jones is well up in the mix, giving fans a front-row opportunity to enjoy the drummer, both in all-over-the-kit, rolling-thunder mode and in the subtler moments of his peerless brushwork. The trio perform a half-dozen originals by Perla and Hammer. The impressive writing has a definite jazz sensibility, but Hammer's Moog and electric piano work, Perla's alternating between electric and acoustic basses, and Jones' own fierce eruptions provide a satisfying, rock wallop in several spots. ~ AllMusic.

Elvin Jones - The Main Force (1976)

01.Salty Iron 5:19

02.Sweet Mama 6:25

03.Mini Modes 10:35

04.Philomene 4:37

05.Song of Rejoicing After Returning from a Hunt 15:42.

Drums - Elvin Jones

Bass - Dave Williams

Guitar - Ryo Kawasaki

Keyboards - Albert Dailey

Percussion - Angel Allende (3-5), Dave Johnson (1-2)

Reeds - Dave Liebman (1-2) , Frank Foster (3-5) , Pat LaBarbera , Steve Grossman (2-5).

Review

by Jim Todd

This inconsistent 1976 release from the mighty Elvin Jones is most successful when it draws on the high-energy, advanced hard bop style of the drummer's post-Coltrane period. It's a different story when it comes to the date's superfluous accommodations to fusion. Ryo Kawasaki's squelchy wah-wah guitar serves as the date's chief fusion device. At times, Kawasaki functions usefully in a role somewhat based on John McLaughlin's approach with Miles Davis in the late '60s. Mostly, he comes across as an additional flavor calculated to skew the music's appeal to the rock audience. Still, the opening track, Kawasaki's "Salty Iron," is wonderful, funky, jazz fusion, but it's not a track that calls for Jones' peerless gifts. "Philomene" and "Mini Modes" are in a more hard bop vein, but their potential is undermined by Kawasaki's trendy licks and the tinny chime of Al Dailey's electric piano. The highlight is Gene Perla's "Sweet Mama." Here, guest saxophonist Dave Liebman fires up some tasty, apocalyptic mayhem over a roiling, rhythm-section tempest. There's also a magical solo spot from Jones. This track is helped considerably by Dailey more suitably playing an acoustic piano and bassist Dave Williams setting aside his electric in favor of his upright. As for the 16-plus-minute "Song of Rejoicing," this marathon of collective, percussive noodling, including extensive pad slapping from reed players Pat Labarbera and Frank Foster, is simply an ill-conceived shamble.

Elvin Jones - Genesis (1971)

01.P.P. Phoenix 4:56

02.For All The Other Times 10:00

03.Slumber 5:16

04.Three Card Molly 8:25

05.Cecilia Is Love 10:10.

Bass - Gene Perla

Drums - Elvin Jones

Saxophone [Tenor, Soprano] - Dave Liebman,Joe Farrell

Saxophone [Tenor], Flute [Alto] - Frank Foster.

The graphics are kind of dull on this late-period Blue Note LP, but the music is anything but boring. Elvin Jones' band had expanded during 1969-71 from a pianoless trio to a three-horn quintet. With Dave Liebman and the returning Joe Farrell on tenors and sopranos and Frank Foster contributing some tenor, alto flute and bass clarinet (bassist Gene Perla completes the group), it would not be an overstatement to call this a powerful unit. On five originals by band members (best-known is Jones' "Three Card Molly"), the musicians take long, heated solos that straddle the boundary between hard bop and the avant-garde. Their album (not yet out on CD) has plenty of invigorating music.(by S.Yanow)

Art Blakey, Charlie Persip, Elvin Jones & "Philly" Joe Jones - Gretsch Drum Night At Birdland (1960)

A1.Wee Dot
A2.Fours
A3."Philly" Joe Jones' Solo
Drums [Solo] - "Philly" Joe Jones
A4.Art Blakey's Solo -- Segue -- Finale
Drums [Solo] - Art Blakey
A5.Now's The Time
A6."Philly" Joe Jones' Solo
Drums [Solo] - "Philly" Joe Jones
A7.Art Blakey's Solo
Drums [Solo] - Art Blakey

B1.El Sino
B2.Fours
B3.Drum Ensemble -- Segue -- Elvin Jones' Solo
Drums [Solo] - Elvin Jones
B4.Drum Ensemble -- Segue -- Charlie Persip's Solo
Drums [Solo] - Charlie Persip
B5.Drum Ensemble -- Segue -- Finale.

Bass - Ron Carter

Drums - "Philly"Joe Jones,Art Blakey,Charlie Persip,Elvin Jones

Piano - Tommy Flannagan*

Saxophone [Alto] - Sylvester "Red" Kyner*

Trombone - Charlie Greenlee*.

Recorded live at Birdland, New York, New York on April 25, 1960.

Elvin Jones - Merry-Go-Round (1971)

01.Who's Afraid of Frank Wolff,Foster
02.'Round Town.Perla
03.Brite Piece,Liebman
04Lungs,Hammer
05.A Time for Love,Mandel, Webster
06.Tergiversation,Perla
07.The Children's Merry-Go-Round March,Jones
08.La Fiesta,Corea.

Pepper Adams - Sax (Baritone)

Don Alias - Conga, Percussion

Chick Corea - Piano, Piano (Electric)

Joe Farrell - Flute, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)

Frank Foster - Clarinet

Steve Grossman - Sax (Tenor)

Jan Hammer - Piano, Piano (Electric)

Elvin Jones - Drums

David Liebman - Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)

Yoshiaki Masuo - Guitar

Gene Perla - Bass.

Inexcusably, there are no date or personnel listings on this LP from Blue Note's declining years, but the music is generally quite worthwhile, if a bit eclectic. The personnel changes throughout the session, despite all the performances being apparently recorded on the same day. The great drummer Elvin Jones is joined by the reeds of David Liebman, Steve Grossman and Joe Farrell; baritonist Pepper Adams is also on two numbers, keyboardists Chick Corea and Jan Hammer generally alternate (although they both appear on a few tunes together), guitarist Yoshiaki Masuo has guest appearances on two songs, and most selections include bassist Gene Perla and percussionist Don Alias. The group mostly plays concise versions of band originals, including Corea's classic "La Fiesta." An interesting set, but Elvin Jones has recorded many more rewarding albums.by Scott Yanow.

Elvin Jones - Very Rare (1979)

1.Sweet Mama
2.Passion Flower
3.Zange
4.Tin Tin Deo
5.Pitter Pat
6.The Witching Hour
7.E. J. Blues
8.A Love Supreme.

Elvin Jones (drums)

Art Pepper (alto saxophone)

Frank Foster (soprano & tenor saxophones)

Pat LaBarbera (tenor saxophone)

Roland Hanna (piano)

Roland Prince (guitar)

Richard Davis, Andy McCloud (acoustic bass).

Recorded at Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on June 13-20, 1979 and live at Yomiuri Hall, Tokyo, Japan on April 8-9, 1978. Includes liner notes by Chip Stern.

VERY RARE documents two superb sessions lead by the legendary drummer. Elvin Jones is in fine form on both 1978 studio session and 1979 live concert.

Jones' ability to play with great power, yet accompany soloists with a nimble sensitivity, is a sign of his drumming genius. He knows when to spur his bandmates on to reach higher musical vistas, and when to lay back and give them space, an acute and rare musical intuition. Highlights include the album's opener, "Sweet Mama," which finds Jones unleashing a barrage of dexterous counterpoint on drums and cymbals, and the 26-minute live version of John Coltrane's famous opus, "A Love Supreme," which serves as a kind of homage to the great musician.JazzTimes (12/93, p.67) - "..[VERY RARE] is a wonderful example of [Elvin] Jones' strengths as bandleader, as drummer, and as musical collaborator ..Suffice it to say that the concentration of the studio dates stands in majestic contrast to the athletic stretches of the concert hall--and that both repay repeated listenings..".

Elvin Jones - Jazz Machine (video)

01. Is There A Jackson In The House?
02. Ray El
03. Doll Of The Bride.

ELVIN JONES — drums
SONNY FORTUNE — tenor sax, flute
RAVI COLTRANE – tenor sax, soprano sax
WILLIE PICKENS — piano
CHIP JACKSON — bass.
Format: AVI
Length: 566 MiB
Video #0 : MPEG-4 Visual at 1 201 Kbps
Aspect : 720 x 480 (1.500) at 29.970 fps
Audio #0 : MPEG Audio at 128 Kbps
Infos : 2 channels, 44.1 KHz.

Philly Joe Jones - Philly Joe's Beat - Philly Joe & Elvin Jones - Together! (1964)

01.Salt Peanuts
02.Muse Rapture
03.Dear Old Stockholm
04.Two Bass Hit
05.Lori
06.Got to Take Another Chance
07.That's Earl, Brother
08.Le Roi
10.Brown Sugar.



2 LP's on 1 CD: PHILLY JOE'S BEAT (1960)/PHILLY JOE JONES & ELVIN JONES TOGETHER! (1964).

PHILLY JOE'S BEAT:
Personnel: Philly Joe Jones (drums)
Bill Barron (tenor saxophone)
Michael Downs (cornet)
Walter Davis (piano)
Paul Chambers (bass).

PHILLY JOE JONES & ELVIN JONES TOGETHER!:
Personnel: Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones (drums)
Hank Mobley (tenor saxophone)
Blue Mitchell (trumpet)
Curtis Fuller (trombone)
Wynton Kelly (piano)
Paul Chambers (bass).

Elvin Jones - Live At The Lighthouse (1971)

01.Introduction
02.Fancy Free
03.Sambra
04.Children, Save the Children
05.Introduction/Happy Birthday
06.Sweet Mama
07.New Breed
08.My Ship.




Bass - Gene Perla
Drums - Elvin Jones
Producer - George Butler
Saxophone [Soprano] - David Liebman
Saxophone [Tenor] - David Liebman , Steve Grossman.
Recorded Live at The Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach, California on September 9, 1972.

Elvin Jones, Cecil Taylor, Dewey Redman - Momentum Space (1999)

1.Nine
2.Bekei
3.Spoonin'
4.Life as...
5.It
6.Is
7.Dew.

Momentum Space throws a sucker punch with its billing as a trio album, when in fact the three legends--tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman, drummer Elvin Jones, and pianist Cecil Taylor--only perform together on two selections. But when they perform as a trio, it's a rare treat. On Redman's "Nine" Taylor unravels his customary arsenal of tone clusters, percussive jabs, and jarring trills. Jones keeps Taylor's nervy activity and Redman's sweet passionate cries in forward motion as he propels the composition with thundering polyrhythms. The trio takes a comparatively reflective view on Taylor's "Is," in which the pianist's broken-glass-like shards are balanced by Redman's Ornette-ish wails. The other compositions feature the musicians in either duet or solo settings. Taylor's solo performance of "Life As" finds the CD at its most pensive, while the duet between Redman and Jones on "Spoonin'" amounts to the CD's most playful and swinging moments. All in all, Momentum Space results in an engaging, if not erratic, listening experience. --John Murph

Dewey Redman (tenor saxophone); Cecil Taylor (piano); Elvin Jones (drums).

Recorded at Avatar Recording Studio, New York, New York on August 4 & 5, 1998. Includes liner notes by Cecil Taylor, Dewey Redman and Philippe Carles.

Few names conjure the ideal of sonic adventurousness as distinctly as those of Dewey Redman, Cecil Taylor, and Elvin Jones. With MOMENTUM SPACE, this explosive triumvirate comes together to present an uncommonly challenging and intriguing recording. At every turn, Redman's expressive wails, Taylor's dynamic explorations, and Jones' bombastic thunder seem to challenge the very laws of nature. Indeed, what we hear are three musical forces converging as one, pushing, pulling, blasting, and pounding their way into uncharted territory.
The opening "Nine," an eleven-minute wall of sound that proceeds to shake the foundations of all you hold dear, should be enough to clear away any preconceptions. "Bekei," Jones' staggering solo piece, is an inspiring percussive statement that only a master of his magnitude could proclaim. The Redman/Jones duet "Spoonin" blasts us with the spirit of Coltrane before Taylor leads us on a solo journey of the imagination with "Life As." "It" and the epic "Is" are much too complex to explain with words, but the bizarre sounds that Redman produces on the brief "Dew" can be described with but one: unforgettable.

Elvin Jones - Youngblood (1991)

Despite his stature in both the percussion and jazz communities as one of the most important drum-set innovators in history, Elvin Jones rarely gets credit for The Jazz Machine, his long-lived, always swinging group. On 1992's YOUNGBLOOD, the master kit player teams up with the young lions (or "youngbloods") of the '90s, including tenor saxophonists Javon Jackson and Joshua Redman and trumpet player Nicholas Payton. Together with bassist George Mraz, the Machine minces away once again.

These young jazz greats fit in superbly with the elder Jones, nearly 65 when this album was recorded. Indeed, Jones plays with a youthful spirit on YOUNGBLOOD, while Jackson, Redman, and Payton all play with the maturity of jazz veterans. All involved provide memorable solos. Jones' drums are especially riveting throughout. His contrapuntal and harmonic sense for the instrument proves that drums have the ability-even if more limited than pitched instruments-to develop themes and create complex musical statements beyond the boundaries of rhythm. Highlights include the knotty "Strange" and the solo drum composition "Ding-A-Ling-A-Ling."

24bit digitally remastered Japanese limited edition issue of the album classic in a deluxe, miniaturized LP sleeve replica of the original vinyl album artwork.
Recorded at Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey from April 20-21, 1992.

01.Not Yet
02.Have You Seen Elveen?
03.Angel Eyes
04.Ding-A-Ling-A-Ling
05.Lady Luck
06.The Biscuit Man
07.Body And Soul
08.Strange
09.My Romance
10.Youngblood.

Elvin Jones - Drums
Nicholas Payton - Trumpet
Joshua Redman - Tenor Saxophone
Javon Jackson - Tenor Saxophone
George Mraz - Bass.

Elvin Jones and Richard Davis - Heavy Sounds (1967)

1.Raunchy Rita
2.Shiny Stockings
3.M. E.
4.Summertime
5.Elvin's Guitar Blues
6.Here's That Rainy Day.

One of Elvin Jones' better CDs as a leader, HEAVY SOUNDS offers a plethora of aural pleasures. Whether it be Frank Foster's creative tenor work, or Richard Davis' fat, rounded double bass tone, this music really swings hard. With his sensitive, yet hard-hitting style, Jones himself is in superb form here.
Highlights on HEAVY SOUNDS include a bass and drums duet version of "Summertime," and the beautiful ballad, "Here's That Rainy Day." On the former, Jones plays a particularly moving solo using timpani mallets. Jones also plays guitar (his first and only time) on this album--his old-fashioned delta blues style ain't half bad.

Live Recording
Recorded at RCA Recording Studio, New York, New York on June 19 & 20, 1967. Originally issued on Impulse! (9160). Includes liner notes by Frank Kofsky.

Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.

Personnel: Elvin Jones (guitar, drums); Richard Davis (acoustic bass); Frank Foster (tenor saxophone); Billy Green (piano).