Joe Henderson: The Elements (1973) Milestone/Concord (2017)

Selection: Fire (Henderson)

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Track List 

A1 Fire     11:07
A2 Air        9:53
B1 Water   7:33
B2 Earth   13:15

Artists

Joe Henderson, tenor sax, flute; Michael White, violin; Alice Coltrane, piano, harp, harmonium, tambura; Charlie Haden, bass; Baba Daru Oshun, tabla, percussion; Kenneth Nash, percussion, vocal; recorded at The Village Recorder, Los Angeles, CA, October 15 & 17, 1973, Rick Heenan, engineer; remixed at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, Ca; producer – Orrin Keepnews

Music

The Elements was a one-off concept album for Henderson, though similar musical arrangements are found on Ptah, the El Daoud, three years earlier.

 Henderson’s saxophone is often processed electronically with reverb effects, echo, and overdubs. The horn effects were something of a passing fad, without the staying power of the conventionally expressive instrument, but the combination of Joe, Alice Coltrane and Charlie Haden revitalises the zodiac-astral travelling formula. 

The percussion layers work more successfully thanks to dynamic stereo mixing. Alice Coltrane’s dense drone-like layers raise the spiritual bar a few notches, as she pounds the piano chords, then strokes arpeggios on the harp. The introduction of Michael White’s electric violin dates the session as early 70’s fusion, when that instrument became increasingly vogue – Noel Pointer, Michal Urbaniak, Jean-Luc Ponty and Didier Lockwood – the French roots tracing back to Stephane Grappelli and the Hot Club de France swing.

Dim the lights, Elements is a long spiritual jazz  listening session, partnering well with a long Pharoah Sanders title, to make a complete evening of astral travelling. 

Vinyl: MIL 00001

The first Concord Jazz Dispensary excursion into audiophile space, lash Kevin Gray to the mast, warp speed ahead Scotty. Were sort on power, Cap’n, since Enterprise went electric.  What do you mean there are no charging points in this sector of the Galaxy? 

This reissue of Elements is newly remastered from the original analogue tapes, and offers a tonally rich and dynamic presentation.

Etched K G C@A  – Kevin Grey at Cohearent Audio. Gray’s trademark narrow groove cut leaves a large runout space, and reduced volume.

Harry’s Place

Harry’s place, your front row seat as usual,  Michael White, Montreux 1970; Charlie Haden, New Victoria Theatre, London 1971

Photo Credits © Harry M

Collector’s Corner

The original Milestone issue remains exceptionally difficult to find, suggesting it achieved only modest sales in its day, or everyone who had got it doesn’t want to let it go. 

The 2017 reissue itself also proved difficult to find. It was reissued in the US, and in Germany, by the increasingly active audiophile Enja label.

Forgive Them, for They Know Not What They Do

I had to share this insert, which friend found  slipped into the sleeve of a modern vinyl LP he had just bought:

With concerns everywhere about Sustainability, it is comforting to know there is one commodity that will never be in short supply: Stupidity.

Horizon Scanning – Candid Reissues!

Kevin Gray has a rival: Bernie Grundman joins the original tape reanimation club.

 

LJC rips original mono Candid pressing (1961) – Uranus (Ervin)

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Michael Fremer wrote: “Candid Records, founded in 1960 with Nat Hentoff as A&R director produced a catalog of great jazz and blues releases that also featured superb sound. A label relaunch was announced by new owners Exceleration Music with fine titles mastered by Bernie Grundman. The press release didn’t specify if BG mastered from tape or from hi-res files so before posting this I asked the publicist to clarify. Good news! Bernie cut from tape! “

Exceleration Music” is an investment venture in indie labels founded  by former Concord Music Group CEO Glen Barros, former Concord Records president John Burk, former Merlin CEO Charles Caldas, former INgrooves general manager Amy Dietz and former Epitaph Records general manager Dave Hansen.” There’s  a lot of “formers” in there. A new home for the classic short-lived jazz label Candid, be grateful for what we get.

Original Candid issue (mono)  “That’s It” at LJC

Candid originals are hot cuts. The Exceleration reissues seem to be all stereo. Candid  were recorded in 1961 in both full track and two track, which augurs well for solid stereo presentation. Instead of drip-feeding them to market a few at a time, Exceleration seem to have put out most of the catalogue in one go (including titles from Kenny Barron, Abbey Lincoln, Donald Harrison Jr., Joanne Brackeen and others less familiar), but notably these classics:

 I have actually bought a copy of the Booker Ervin, but it’s a while until I can play it. The acid test is how these reissues “from original tapes”  stand up against the intermediate Barnaby reissues and other licensed editions over the years

CANDID originals:

Mingus Presents Mingus

Max Roach: We Insist!

Clark Terry: Colour Changes

Benny Baily: Big Brass

Mingus: Newport Rebels

Barnaby Reissues:

Booker Little: Out in Front

Don Ellis: How Time Passes

Any comments on the reissue quality and Bernie Grundman engineering? Weigh in, please. Any other opinions on the Exceleration output?

 

LJC

Last respects: 

for a lifetime of music – Wayne Shorter (pictured 1969, Antibes)

© Harry M