JIMMY GIUFFRE — Jimmy Giuffre 3 & 4 New York Concerts (review)

JIMMY GIUFFRE — Jimmy Giuffre 3 & 4 New York Concerts album cover Live album · 2014 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
snobb
Jazzarcheology during last years had become quite a popular and hot fans of one or another legendary artist really enjoy of this growing fashion.But to be honest big amount of attic issues hardly attracts more casual listener - as rule all the best recordings are already released and well known, and what comes now usually has more historical not musical value. Fortunately, there are some exemptions, "New York Concerts" are one of them

Reedist Jimmy Giuffre was criminally under-appreciated jazz musician who started like cool jazz sax player but from very early 60s switched towards his own unorthodox jazz avant-garde, free but chamber music influenced music very different from what came from Ornette Coleman,Albert Ayler or late-60s John Coltrane. Jimmy released three experimental albums in 1961, of which third "Free Fall" just initialized his broke-up with major label,Columbia. And after that Giuffre didn't release a single record tlll early 70s. Two mid 70s albums were still quite free but inconsistent, and he returned back in early 80s with strong band, playing fusion.His most interesting period of 70s stayed undocumented till now, fortunately this new double release fills this vacuum in full.

Double CD-set contains two Giuffre concerts,recorded same year but with different line-up. And the year is 1965, the year of "New Thing"!Both concerts are recorded in same place - Columbia University, but first set's CD contains later one,recorded in September. Giuffre plays as trio leader here,with drummer Joe Chambers and bassist Richard Davis.From very first seconds,everyone familiar with Jimmy's music will be surprised how free and how muscular the trio sounds here!Five originals and Ornette Coleman’s “Crossroads” all played very loose but still have that specific Giuffrean chamber feel.Sound is surprisingly clear and well balanced for such archival material.

Second CD contains quartet recordings coming from May concert. Here Barre Phillips changed Chambers on bass and pianist Don Friedman is added. More quirky and intense quartet sound is less chamber and sounds closer to what sounded around at that year, with Giuffre playing faster and in moments sharper solos.It works well on more energetic moments,but fails in some silent pauses, lasting for too long.

In all, this release is a holy grail for Jiuffre fans opening for listeners the curtain from almost decade of silence. For casual listener there are some great places, but some historically important concert evidences could sound as filler as well. Released as double CD, this set contains eighty-and-a few minutes of music,and such kind of package looks more as commercial trick.Well edited version,combining best moments from both concerts (most probably up to one hour long) would be a great gift for everyone interested in best early American avant-garde jazz.
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