George Russell: Chromatic Universe (Parts 1, 2 and 3)
Track
Chromatic Universe (Parts 1, 2 and 3)
Group
George Russell
CD
Jazz in the Space Age (Decca GRD-826)
Musicians:
14-piece band featuring Bill Evans (piano), Paul Bley (piano), Milt Hinton (bass), Don Lamond (drums), George Russell (beads upon tuned drums)
.Composed and arranged by George Russell
.Recorded: New York, December 29, 1959
Rating: 98/100 (learn more)
Space-themed dual-piano albums were briefly fashionable in the late 1950s. Ferrante & Teicher mixed schmaltzy arrangements, gimmicky prepared pianos and runaway reverb for musical analogs to Les voyages extraordinaires, those farfetched 19th-century literary fantasies where gentlemen in evening dress ride plush davenports into space aboard vessels with handsomely appointed drawing rooms. By contrast, piloting composer George Russell's ultramodern starship, astronauts Bill Evans and Paul Bley shoot light years past Ferrante & Teicher. "Chromatic Universe," with the Milky Way's most stellar dual piano work, truly is un voyage extraordinaire. All systems A-OK. We have a go for launch. Godspeed, George Russell.
Reviewer: Alan Kurtz
Tags: space age jazz
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