Jazz Archives

The Herbie Hancock Septet was technically out of business around this time, superseded by the Headhunters, yet the group shouldered on briefly in the studio for a second album under the leadership of its trumpeter, Eddie Henderson. With Bennie Maupin back on a variety of reeds, Hancock on electric keyboards, Patrick Gleeson on synthesizers, Buster Williams on bass, and Billy Hart on drums, Henderson again had rounded up everyone in the group except Julian Priester, adding second drummer Eric Gravatt (from Weather Report) and Bill Summers (from the Headhunters) on congas. One can feel the funky influence of the Headhunters entering the building, particularly in the basslines and Hancock's wah-wah keyboard work, but this is still very much the music of the Septet -open-ended and almost free, heavily electronic, spiritual in intent, and enormously stimulating. Although Henderson and Maupin control the repertoire, the trumpeter continues to interact virtually as an equal among equals, sounding more haunting and free-floating now. Drier in texture and less frantically driven than Realization (its Capricorn label predecessor), Inside Out nevertheless is the de facto swan song of one of the great bands of jazz-rock.

:::Review by Richard S. Ginell:::

Eddie Henderson - Inside Out (1973)

1. Moussaka 8:59
2. Omnipresence 2:14
3. Discoveries 5:08
4. Fusion 3:33
5. Dreams 7:21
6. Inside Out 9:25
7. Exit #1 2:54

Credits
Bass, Bass [Fender] - Buster Williams
Clarinet, Clarinet [Bass], Flute, Flute [Alto], Piccolo Flute, Saxophone [Tenor] - Bennie Maupin
Congas - Bill Summers
Drums - Billy Hart , Eric Gravatt
Piano [Electric], Clavinet, Organ - Herbie Hancock
Producer - Skip Drinkwater
Synthesizer - Patrick Gleeson
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Cornet - Eddie Henderson

Enrico Rava's debut for ECM, 1975's The Pilgrim and the Stars, is a stellar progressive jazz effort from the Italian trumpeter who was then just coming into his own. Previously, Rava had spent his formative years working with such artists as saxophonist Steve Lacy, trombonist Roswell Rudd, and pianist Carla Bley, and obviously took much to heart when approaching his own music.
This is cerebral, atmospheric, often groove-oriented music that rests nicely in between such touchstones as late-'60s Miles Davis and Brown Rice-era Don Cherry with some obvious nods to the melodic jazz of ex-pat Chet Baker. To these ends, such tunes as the expansive title track and the reflective "Bella" begin with lyrical melodic statements from Rava and slowly build to more serpentine, post-bop segments that push toward free jazz but never quite go atonal. Buoying Rava is an adroit ensemble of guitarist John Abercrombie, bassist Palle Danielsson, and drummer Jon Christensen. A ceaselessy inventive guitarist, Abercrombie's knotty, fractured, and sometimes distorted playing is a perfect match for Rava and the two often intertwine their lines. Similarly, the moody slow funk of "By the Sea" finds Rava floating in a minor mode over Abercrombie's delay-laden guitar in a kind of dusky twilight raga. This is just the kind of contemplative and experimental Euro-jazz that ECM made its name on, but with some seriously cinematic post-bop guts. In that sense, The Pilgrim and the Stars sounds something akin to a soundtrack to a '70s neo-noir film -- albeit a deliciously avant-garde one.

:::Review by Matt Collar:::

Enrico Rava - The Pilgrim And The Stars (1975)

1. The Pilgrim And The Stars (9:48)
2. Parks (1:48)
3. Bella (9:21)
4. Pesce Naufrago (5:15)
5. Surprise Hotel (1:56)
6. By The Sea (4:49)
7. Blancasnow (6:50)

Credits
Artwork By [Layout] - Barbara Wojirsch
Double Bass - Palle Danielsson
Drums - Jon Christensen
Engineer - Martin Wieland
Guitar - John Abercrombie
Photography, Artwork By [Cover Design] - Giuseppe Pino
Producer - Manfred Eicher
Trumpet, Written-By - Enrico Rava

The band established in Bydgoszcz, Poland in the year 2001 by musicians playing in important polish and european jazz, avantgarde and postrock groups. The band is connected to a legendary avantgarde Club "Brain" from Bydgoszcz. Connecting their experience and musical background, they created a new and interesting modern electro-acoustic style and musical language. They released debiut album in march 2005 by Tone Industria - The Warsaw label. Second album of Sing Sing Penelope - "Music for Umbrellas" was released in May 2006. It contained 6 new compositions. The guest star on "Fis & Love" piece was Sebastian Gruchot - violin player. Album was held by a new Warsaw Label "Monotype Records". It was a very mature presentation of modern jazz musical concept. In the Summer of 2007, tbe band was invited to present its music during Warsaw Summer Jazz Days - the biggest international modern jazz festival in Central Europe. Third album 'We Remember Krzesełko' was released in February 2008 by a new label Electric Eye Records.

:::Review by ankh:::

Sing Sing Penelope - We Remember Krzesełko (2008)

no title - 6:37
james bond - 7:26
talkin' - 4:06
farewell dutch herring - 10:24
it has just begun, doctor - 10:28
third man on the moon - 7:43

all compositions by sing sing penelope, except: 1 (gruchot)
all songs arranged & produced by sing sing penelope
recorded & mixed at electric eye studio, szubin, poland, 7-9.04.2006 & 17-20.07.2007
mastering by yacob records, bydgoszcz, poland
photos, cover design & video: daniel mackiewicz
label - electric eye

Credits
Tomasz Glazik - tenor & baritone saxophones, flute, synth
Wojciech Jachna - trumpet, flugelhorn
Daniel Mackiewicz - electric piano, synth, organ, percussion
Patryk Węcławek - bass, double bass, percussion
Rafał Gorzycki - drums
Sebastian Gruchot - violin (track 1,3,4,7)