Epic 20 minutes-plus from unissued Elvin Jones at Pookie's Pub in 1967 streams

Track of the day and new in the 1 Luv spot, our blue riband section. Of the classic John Coltrane quartet I only ever saw Elvin Jones live on one occasion in the 1990s at Ronnie Scott's when Sonny Fortune was in his band and McCoy Tyner happily on …

Published: 13 Sep 2022. Updated: 19 months.

Track of the day and new in the 1 Luv spot, our blue riband section.

Of the classic John Coltrane quartet I only ever saw Elvin Jones live on one occasion in the 1990s at Ronnie Scott's when Sonny Fortune was in his band and McCoy Tyner happily on a few occasions (in Poland and in London's Barbican when Chris Potter was in the great man's band).

As for Coltrane I was just a child when he died. And the closest I came to Jimmy Garrison was in the genepool hearing his formidable bassist son Matt Garrison at the Vortex playing with the great Russian altoist Zhenya Strigalev on what was a marvellous night for a moondance to say the least.

Obviously I idolise John Coltrane - and obviously I am not alone.

So as preamble that is all I can think of to introduce news of a 1967 Elvin Jones Revival record Live at Pookie's Pub to be released by Blue Note on 18 November not out before. The great Elvin is with saxophonist Joe Farrell, pianist Billy Greene and bassist Wilbur Little.

An epic hard grooving and very lived-in 'Keiko's Birthday March' is streaming. It's 20 minutes-plus long and believe me you do not want the recording warts and all, workmanlike-piano sound and the rest of it no matter, to stop.

Larry Young no less guests on piano on 'Gingerbread Boy.'

Elvin played New York spot Pookie's pub weekly at this time in his career. Bear in mind Coltrane died on 17 July 1967. Jones left Coltrane the year before and this recording was made at the end of July so imagine Jones' feelings at this time in his life.

The reissue was produced by trumpeter David Weiss (leader of The Cookers). Coltrane expert Ashley Kahn contributes to the notes and acts as co-producer with Zev Feldman. Blue Note quote Kahn who is always worth reading: “There's a distinct sense of time and space in other sonic details, like Pookie's room-sound and the applause from an enthusiastic, if limited, number of patrons. Elvin's audible vocalizations‚ grunting the structure of the tune, as well as the laughter between the musicians and candid stage chatter.” SG

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Ramsey Lewis has died at the age of 87

US piano icon Ramsey Lewis has died at home in Chicago US media report citing the musician's son Bobby who said that his father was ''at peace''. The multiple Grammy winner best known for his accessible piano trio and above all ultimate clapalong …

Published: 13 Sep 2022. Updated: 19 months.

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US piano icon Ramsey Lewis has died at home in Chicago US media report citing the musician's son Bobby who said that his father was ''at peace''. The multiple Grammy winner best known for his accessible piano trio and above all ultimate clapalong The In Crowd was 87. He began the trio with the record Ramsey Lewis and the Gentle-Men of Swing in 1956. Named a NEA Jazz Master (the highest jazz honour in the US) in 2007 Lewis was steeped in gospel and classical music. Lewis’ The In Crowd was a pop hit both as a single and as an album in 1965 for Ramsey with bassist Eldee Young (1936-2007) and drummer Redd Holt (born 1932) and began a trend towards soul-jazz using pop songs in jazz settings. Compared sometimes to Ahmad Jamal, Ramsey recorded the classic album at Washington DC venue the Bohemian Caverns and encouraged by a waitress who played it on a cafe's jukebox decided to cover Dobie Gray’s 'The In Crowd' where a late set crowd took to it most and whose contribution counted in the overall effect.