Archie Shepp – ‘Derailleur: The 1964 Demo’

(Triple Point Records. TPR311. Album review by Olie Brice) 

In the spring of 1964 Archie Shepp had yet to record as a sole leader. There were co-led sessions with Bill Dixon and Lars Gullin, four albums by the New York Contemporary Five and of course the two groundbreaking appearances with Cecil Taylor, but nothing under his own name. This recording was made as a demo tape, and a successful one as only a few months later he was recording Four for Trane for Impulse. For bandmates, Shepp hired what was already a working group – the quartet that Steve Lacy and Roswell Rudd had together with Dennis Charles on drums and a rotating cast of bassists, on this occasion Arthur Harper.

The music shows Shepp already working with the range of approaches that would become familiar on his run of great albums on Impulse over the next few years. ‘Dunbar Days & Miami Joys’ is a groovy blues showing Shepp already knew how to combine freedom and funk, ‘Viva Jomo’ features extended improvisations over a wonky, fast 5/4, and ‘Sophisticated Lady’ is the first in a several-decades long relationship with Ellington’s compositions.

The recording is pretty good for a budget demo done 60 years ago, with the three horns especially well captured. Triple Point specialise in lovingly done reissues of rare free jazz finds, and this is beautifully put together, with excellent quality vinyl pressing and extensive and informative liner notes. I have to admit I find it a bit of a shame when historically significant finds are released only as expensive vinyl issues with no download or CD available.

Although this LP is hugely cheaper than Triple Point’s New York Art Quartet, Cecil Taylor and Bill Dixon releases, it’s still a lot of money for what is essentially a three tune demo and some alternate takes. That said, the label always do a fantastic job on quality and also involve (and presumably pay!) the artists, something that can’t be said for plenty of historical reissues and discoveries. For fans of Shepp, Lacy and Rudd – three of the greatest ever to play this music – this is a fascinating addition to the recordings we already have.  

Archie Shepp (tenor saxophone)
Roswell Rudd (trombone)
Steve Lacy (soprano saxophone)z
Arthur Harper (bass)
Denis Charles (drums)

LINK: Triple Point Records website

from https://londonjazznews.com