Don Ellis Live At Montreux CD

Personnel: Don Ellis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Don Ellis; Laurie Badessa, Pam Tompkins (violin); Jimbo Ross (viola); Paula Hochhalter (cello); James Coile, James Coile (flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone); Ann Patterson (piccolo, oboe, reeds, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Ann Patterson (piccolo, oboe, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Gil Rathel, Gil Rathel (trumpet); Sidney Muldrow, Sidney Muldrow (French horn); Leon Gaer (synthesizer, bass synthesizer, Oberheim synthesizer, EWI, bass instrument, electric bass, 8-string bass); Darrell Clayborn (bass instrument); Darrell Clayborn (upright bass); Mike Englander, Mike Englander (drums, percussion); Ruth Ritchie, Ruth Ritchie (timpani, percussion); Jim Snodgrass (flute, piccolo, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, baritone saxophone); Ted Nash (flute, clarinet, reeds, alto saxophone); Glenn Stuart, Jack Coan (trumpet); Alan Kaplan (trombone); Richard Bullock (bass trombone); Jim Self (tuba); Randy Kerber (piano, keyboards); Dave Crigger (drums, percussion).
Audio Remasterer: Rosalind Ilett.
Audio Remixers: Steven Escallier; Bill Drescher.
Recording information: Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland (07/08/1977).
Editor: Rosalind Ilett.
Arranger: Don Ellis.
Don Ellis' final record as a leader (he passed away from a bad heart in Dec. 1978) is a worthwhile effort. Ellis' large orchestra (four reeds, eight brass, one keyboard, two bassists, two drummers, two percussionists and a string quartet) performs six of the leader's originals and, although none of the songs are all that memorable, there are many fine solos. The main players are trumpeter Ellis, Ted Nash on tenor, alto and clarient and trombonist Alan Kaplan. ~ Scott Yanow
Don Ellis' final record as a leader (he passed away from a bad heart in December 1978) is a worthwhile effort. Ellis' large orchestra (four reeds, eight brass, one keyboard, two bassists, two drummers, two percussionists, and a string quartet) performs six of the leader's originals and, although none of the songs are all that memorable, there are many fine solos. The main players are trumpeter Ellis, Ted Nash on tenor, alto, and clarinet, and trombonist Alan Kaplan. [The Koch reissue features three bonus tracks: "Lyra," "Eros," and "Arcturus."] ~ Scott Yanow