The Essence of George Russell

Last updated
The Essence of George Russell
The Essence of George Russell.jpg
Studio album by
Released1971
Recorded1966-1967
Genre Jazz
Length85:03
Label Sonet, Black Saint
Producer George Russell
George Russell chronology
George Russell Sextet at Beethoven Hall
(1965)
The Essence of George Russell
(1971)
Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature
(1971)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]

The Essence of George Russell is an album by American jazz composer and pianist George Russell originally released on the Swedish Sonet label in 1971, and subsequently reissued on the Italian Black Saint label in 1983. The album featuring performances by Russell with a large ensemble, mostly Nordic musicians, including Stanton Davis, Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen, Jon Christensen and orchestra. [4]

Contents

Reception

The Allmusic review by Brian Olewnick states: "The Essence Of... contained George Russell's first large-scale work to incorporate electronic elements from contemporary classical music as well as an emerging influence of modern rock. "Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature" is a massive work... the composition progresses from theme to theme, many of them propulsive and groove-oriented, serving as platforms for improvisations from the featured players... "Now and Then," recorded a couple of years prior to the other pieces, is more along the lines of Russell's previous work, especially as heard on his At Beethoven Hall recording: good, rambunctious big band jazz. On the whole, highly recommended". [5]

Track listing

All compositions by George Russell
  1. "Electric Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature - Part I" - 19:45
  2. "Electric Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature - Part II" - 19:51
  3. "Electric Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature - Part III" - 20:53
  4. "Concerto For Self-Accompanied Guitar" - 9:25
  5. "Now and Then" - 14:07
  • Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden 1966 & 1967.

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<i>Electric Byrd</i> album by Donald Byrd

Electric Byrd is a jazz fusion album by Donald Byrd released by the Blue Note label in 1970.

<i>New Life</i> (The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra album) 1976 studio album by Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra

New Life is a 1976 big band jazz album recorded by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and released on the A&M/Horizon Records label. The album was nominated for a 1976 Grammy award in the Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band category.

<i>Greetings and Salutations</i> Studio album by Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and the Swedish Radio Orchestra

Greetings and Salutations is a 1975 big band jazz album recorded by the Swedish Radio Jazz Group with Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Jon Faddis as guest bandleader / performers. The album was nominated for a 1978 Grammy award in the Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Big Band category.

<i>Gittin to Know YAll</i> 1970 studio album by Lester Bowie

Gittin' to Know Y'All is a various artists album recorded during the annual Baden-Baden Free Jazz Meeting in 1969 and released on the MPS label in 1970. It features one track by the Baden-Baden Free Jazz Orchestra conducted by trumpeter Lester Bowie, one by the Terje Rypdal Group, one by Karin Krog, and one by The Willem Breuker-John Surman Duo. This historic session was the first time that many of these European and American jazz musicians performed together in a large group setting.

<i>Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature</i> 1969 studio album by George Russell

Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature is a work by jazz arranger George Russell originally written in 1968 and first recorded in concert in Norway on April 28, 1969 and released on the Flying Dutchman label. The 1969 recording featured Russell with Jan Garbarek, Manfred Schoof, Terje Rypdal, Jon Christensen, and Red Mitchell and was subsequently re-released on Strata-East Records on LP in 1976, and again on the Italian Soul Note label in 1985.

<i>Afric Pepperbird</i> 1970 studio album by Jan Garbarek

Afric Pepperbird is the second album by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek and his first released on the ECM label performed by Garbarek's quartet featuring Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen and Jon Christensen.

<i>Sart</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Jan Garbarek

Sart is the third album by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, his second released on the ECM label, and is performed by Garbarek's quintet featuring Bobo Stenson, Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen and Jon Christensen.

<i>Esoteric Circle</i> 1969 studio album by Jan Garbarek

Esoteric Circle is the second album by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, originally released under the band name "The Esoteric Circle" on Bob Thiele's Flying Dutchman label but re-issued under his name on the Freedom imprint, performed by Garbarek with Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen and Jon Christensen.

<i>Trip to Prillarguri</i> 1982 live album by George Russell

Trip to Prillarguri is a live album by George Russell originally recorded in 1970 and subsequently released on the Italian Soul Note label in 1982, featuring a performance by Russell with Stanton Davis, Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen, and Jon Christensen. The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars, although, as no review text appears to date, this can be considered the default rating for those albums awaiting a review.

<i>Listen to the Silence</i> 1973 live album by George Russell

Listen to the Silence is a live album by George Russell originally recorded in 1971 and released on the Concept label in 1973, featuring a performance by Russell with Stanton Davis, Jan Garbarek, Terje Rypdal, Arild Andersen, and Jon Christensen with vocal chorus.

<i>Vertical Form VI</i> 1981 live album by George Russell

Vertical Form VI is a live album by George Russell recorded in 1977 and released on the Italian Soul Note label in 1981, featuring a performance by the Swedish Radio Jazz Orchestra.

<i>New York Big Band</i> 1982 live album by George Russell

New York Big Band is a live album by George Russell released on the Italian Soul Note label in 1982, featuring performances by Russell with his New York Big Band recorded in 1978 and one track with The Swedish Radio Jazz Orchestra recorded in 1977 at the same concert that produced Vertical Form VI.

<i>The London Concert</i> (George Russell album) 1990 live album by George Russell & The Living Time Orchestra

The London Concert is a live album by George Russell released on the French Label Bleu label in 1990, featuring performances by Russell with his Living Time Orchestra recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in 1989. The Allmusic review by awarded the album 3 stars.

<i>The Spirit of 67</i> (Oliver Nelson and Pee Wee Russell album) 1967 studio album by Pee Wee Russell and Oliver Nelson

The Spirit of '67 is an album by American jazz clarinetist Pee Wee Russell and composer/arranger Oliver Nelson featuring performances recorded in 1967 for the Impulse! label.

<i>Terje Rypdal</i> (album) 1971 studio album by Terje Rypdal

Terje Rypdal is an album by Norwegian jazz guitarist Terje Rypdal that was released by ECM Records in 1971.

<i>Satu</i> (Edward Vesala album) 1977 studio album by Edward Vesala

Satu is an album by Finnish avant-garde jazz composer, bandleader and drummer Edward Vesala recorded in 1976 and released on the ECM label in 1977.

Crime Scene is an album by guitarist Terje Rypdal recorded in 2009.

<i>The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix</i> 1974 studio album by Gil Evans Orchestra

The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix is an album of Jimi Hendrix's compositions by jazz composer, conductor and pianist Gil Evans. The music was arranged by Evans and members of his orchestra. The album was recorded in 1974 and performed by Evans with an orchestra featuring David Sanborn, Howard Johnson, Billy Harper, and John Abercrombie. The album was re-released with additional tracks on CD in 1988.

<i>Skull Session</i> 1975 studio album by Oliver Nelson

Skull Session is an album by American jazz composer/arranger Oliver Nelson featuring performances recorded in 1975 for the Flying Dutchman label.

<i>The Half-Life of Desire</i> 1990 studio album by Either/Orchestra

The Half-Life of Desire is an album by the Either/Orchestra recorded in 1989, with one track from 1988, and released by the Accurate Records label the following year.

References

  1. Olewnick, Brian (2011). "The Essence Of... - George Russell | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  2. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide . USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp.  174. ISBN   0-394-72643-X.
  3. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1250. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
  4. George Russell discography accessed 10 November 2009.
  5. Owelnick, B. Allmusic Review accessed 10 November 2009.