George Russell

Brian Olewnick · June-23rd-2004, 03:37 PM

I believe it's his 81st birthday today (Happy Birthday, George!). In any case, WKCR is playing some of his work from the 60s and got me thinking about him.

I first heard him on the "Living Time" recording, one that came out under Bill Evans' name though it's really a Russell album. Loved it at the time. Went back and got the Sonet albums, "Electronic Sonata" and the one with the Organ Concerto. Really loved the former though these days I find his attempts at integrating rock a bit clunky. Some great themes, though, and I think it was my first exposure to Garbarek and friends (though I may have had the early ECMS by this time). But my fave Russell is still the Live at Beethoven Hall set with guest Don Cherry. Great, great stuff and very unique still.

I was never too fond of what I heard of his work post-1980 or so, including especially 'The African Game' which I find all but unlistenable.

I haven't kept up, though, on any recent issues or reissues of older things. Any recs?

walto · June-23rd-2004, 04:38 PM

Brian, I think those Riverside recordings are the absolute shizzy--especially "Stratus Seekers" and "The Outer View." I also really like "Jazz in the Space Age" (on Decca).

I don't care for the later stuff nearly as much. (Also, promise me you won't listen to Cherches on this matter! Russell is fantab!)

Rob Damen · June-23rd-2004, 04:59 PM

I agree with Walto.

I certainly enjoy his earlier small-group material like "Jazz Workshop", "Ezz-thetics" and "At The Five Spot", but after that, I could really do without most of it, especially the "African Game" which I really found to be contrived. I still have it just in case.

Sorry, but I really didn't like "Beethoven Hall" much either. Probably due in part to how it was recorded.

Nonetheless,

Happy Birthday!

Cheers,

Rob

June-23rd-2004, 05:07 PM

God bless George Russell!!!!

Ken Burns made a huge mistake turning down this guys offer to help out on the Jazz series.

graypencil · June-23rd-2004, 05:09 PM

Russell was a very early influence of mine back in the 50s/60s ..

I still wish they'd re-release "New York NY", "Cubano Be" and the rest of the sextet stuff ..

Fortunately, the Mosiac Mulligan CJB set has my all time favorite Russell chart , the big band version of "All About Rosie "..

Also, I'm like the rest of the consensus here about some of the later stuff ..

anyway, Happy 81 , George !

Joe Milazzo · June-23rd-2004, 05:14 PM

Ken Burns still owes Mr. Russell an apology.

The mid-60's live recordings (Beethoven Hall) with Don Cherry are also wonderful.

clinthopson · June-23rd-2004, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Milazzo

Ken Burns still owes Mr. Russell an apology.

Burns owes us ALL an apology.
Thanks for the reminder, I haven't played the NY Ny disc in a long time.

"All About Rosie" is a classic of modern jazz.

June-23rd-2004, 05:34 PM

I recall writing liner notes for one of the Riversides. George Russell is definitely one of the shamefully overlooked jazz people, and I'm not just talking about Ken Burns.

Nate Dorward · June-23rd-2004, 05:43 PM

I thought New York NY was recently reissued? Is it already gone? That's a shame, I never got a chance to snag it.

All the Riversides are excellent (I have all of them except Stratusphunk, though I have two tracks from it on a 2LP compilation). I'd single out Ezz-Thetics & the remarkable Jazz in the Space Age as his best work--the latter is an eye-opener for the freely-improvised Bill Evans/Paul Bley duets in 5/4 time.

Are the Soul Notes good, by the way? They do have promimsing lineups. All the later Russell I've heard has been a terrible disappointment: The African Game, So What & 2 vols of The London Concert.

I should also add that his Lydian Chromatic Concept book is fascinating stuff if like me you like music theory; even if you don't like music theory there are some non-technical appendices (interviews, essays, &c) in the back that give you the gist anyway.

Chris D · June-23rd-2004, 05:48 PM

I've always liked the '50s RCA "Jazz Workshop" recordings, with Art Farmer, Bill Evans and Barry Galbraith, but I don't know if they're in print.

Brian Olewnick · June-23rd-2004, 06:03 PM

Forgot to mention that I also have Stratisphunk and Ezz-thetics (on the twofer LP 'Outer Thoughts') and love 'em both.

I keep hoping that there's a late Russell I haven't heard which I'll enjoy....

sonic1 · June-23rd-2004, 07:18 PM

I have his lydian chromatic concept book (one of the best gifts a friend ever got me) and find him to be an incredible genius. I prefer his early works and his influence on other artists. Certainly there is just not enough of his earlier works. i think his influence is totally overlooked. I don't know why people just don't find people like Don Ellis (a student of Russells) totally amazing. Don Ellis made some incredible albums which I hardly ever see talked about, but which employ some incredible innovations like microtones (that actually sound great) and chromatics not found in other places in the jazz world (except in artists who follow russell).

People who superficially read Russell's book believe he has just reorganized the tone system, which is partly true. But in effect he has made a new way of viewing tonal possibilities which lends itself to function more than the conventional way.

Oh, and I believe Russell was responsible for a considerable influence on Eric Dolphy too (not to mention Miles Davis, et al).

I am a Russell zealot pardon me. But I wish he was given the respect he deserves. His contribution to music spans beyond jazz...

Jared

walto · June-23rd-2004, 10:19 PM

Right on, Jared.

gnhrtg · June-24th-2004, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Forgot to mention that I also have Stratisphunk and Ezz-thetics (on the twofer LP 'Outer Thoughts') and love 'em both.

I keep hoping that there's a late Russell I haven't heard which I'll enjoy....

And I was wondering...I'm only familiar with the three Nate mentioned (Ezz, Phunk, Space Age) and was going to suggest that you, too, get them. Held back as I found it hard to come to terms with the fact that you wouldn't have heard them.

Tom Storer · June-24th-2004, 03:25 AM

I'll have to study up on my George Russell. I heard about what a genius he was and picked up a couple of his current releases- this was in the 80's. "The African Game" was my introduction, then I tried whatever his next one was after that. Anyway, I couldn't figure out what the fuss was about and don't have any of his earlier stuff (although I've heard "Ezz-Thetics" and enjoyed it, I haven't listened to it closely or repeatedly). Is this Beethoven Hall thing still in print?

Douglas · June-24th-2004, 04:33 AM

Tom, if you haven't got it, I picked up a copy of Ezz-Thetics for under €4 in FNAC last weekend. That was my introduction to Mr. Russel and I'm glad this thread appeard and is giving me some good ideas of where to go next.

John L · June-24th-2004, 05:38 AM

George Russell is certainly one of our living musical giants. His contributions were enormous. I especially love the early RCA recordings and the Riversides. To this day, they still sound absolutely unique. They occupy their own place in jazz history.

Happy Birthday, George! And thank you!

walto · June-24th-2004, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnhrtg

And I was wondering...I'm only familiar with the three Nate mentioned (Ezz, Phunk, Space Age) and was going to suggest that you, too, get them. Held back as I found it hard to come to terms with the fact that you wouldn't have heard them.

I think you should both pick up "Stratus Seekers" and "The Outer View" immediately!

Brian Olewnick · June-24th-2004, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Storer

I'll have to study up on my George Russell. I heard about what a genius he was and picked up a couple of his current releases- this was in the 80's. "The African Game" was my introduction, then I tried whatever his next one was after that. Anyway, I couldn't figure out what the fuss was about and don't have any of his earlier stuff (although I've heard "Ezz-Thetics" and enjoyed it, I haven't listened to it closely or repeatedly). Is this Beethoven Hall thing still in print?

Tom, it was released on the German Motor Music label in 1998 so, even if not still in print, I'd think it would be findable (I have the double LP).

Joe Milazzo · June-24th-2004, 10:28 AM

The three later-period Russell dates I return to most often (which is not nearly often enough)

stonemonkts · June-24th-2004, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas

Tom, if you haven't got it, I picked up a copy of Ezz-Thetics for under €4 in FNAC last weekend. That was my introduction to Mr. Russel and I'm glad this thread appeard and is giving me some good ideas of where to go next.

Me too. All I have by Russell is Ezz-Thetics which I've enjoyed very much, particularly for Dolphy's contributions. I'll have to seek out some of the other Riversides mentioned here.

Jason Bivins · June-24th-2004, 11:07 AM

Live at Beethoven Hall, with guest Don Cherry, is fantastic.

lazarus · June-24th-2004, 03:49 PM

I love this album very much. A big favorite of mine!

Bill Barton · June-28th-2004, 12:05 PM

Hmmmm...

I definitely agree that the earlier material is the essential stuff, but - minority opinion here - I happen to really like The African Game.

Another (relatively) latter-day Russell recording that deserves more exposure is New York Big Band on Soul Note. The extended version of "Cubana Be, Cubana Bop" with Sabu Martinez plus the Swedish Radio Jazz Orchestra on this is wonderful.

Il Anto · July-4th-2004, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazarus

I love this album very much. A big favorite of mine!

This is one of my all-time favorites too!

I was introduced to Russell and this recording on the very same WKCR birthday broadcast back in '98.

"Bird in Igor's Yard", performed by Buddy DeFranco, is another lovely piece of music written by this brilliant man.