Elvin Jones Jazz Machine Truth: Heard Live At The Blue Note CD

Elvin Jones: Elvin Jones; Gene Perla (bass instrument); Darren Barrett, Michael Brecker, Antoine Roney, Robin Eubanks, Carlos McKinney.
Personnel: Elvin Jones (drums); Michael Brecker, Antoine Roney (saxophone); Darren Barrett (trumpet); Robin Eubanks (trombone); Carlos McKinney (piano).
Audio Mixer: Steven Remote.
Liner Note Author: Jeff Levenson.
Recording information: The Blue Note, NY (09/11/1999/09/12/1999).
Editors: Gene Perla; Chris Thorne.
Photographer: John Abbott .
Arranger: Keiko Jones.
This 1999 live set features the great drummer Elvin Jones leading an all-star group. The repertoire, comprised of three jazz standards (including John Coltrane's lesser-known "Wise One"), three originals and an adaptation of a folk song, generally featuring one or two soloists on each cut. The straight-ahead and basic "E.J.'s Blues" has spots for trumpeter Darren Barrett (who sounds a bit like Freddie Hubbard) and Jones, while "Straight No Chaser" puts the spotlight on trombonist Robin Eubanks (in a J.J. Johnson mood), pianist Carlos McKinney and the drummer. Michael Brecker is very restrained on "Body and Soul" while "Truth" is a modal piece that has Antoine Roney on soprano sounding a bit like Coltrane. Brecker stretches himself much more on "A Lullaby of Itsugo Village," McKinney is showcased with the trio on an episodic "Wise One," and the closing "Three Card Molly" has contributions from Barrett and Jones. All of the musicians are in top form and were clearly inspired to be playing with Elvin Jones. Although falling short of being a classic, this set has many bright moments. ~ Scott Yanow
This live date, recorded at the Blue Note in 1999 in commemoration of Elvin Jones's 72nd birthday, was one of the drummer's last recorded performances before his death in 2004. Jones's Jazz Machine turns in an exciting program of nervy hard bop, with nods to both the mainstream and the avant garde. The band, comprised of Michael Brecker and Antoine Roney on saxophones, Robin Eubanks on trombone, Darren Barrett on trumpet, Carlos McKinney on piano, and Gene Perla on bass, displays an impressive sense of group interplay, while not skimping on brio in the solos.
The set features two standards, Thelonious Monk's "Straight, No Chaser," and "Body and Soul" (with impressive saxophone work by Brecker and Roney). John Coltrane's beautiful, complex "Wise One" is given a reverential treatment (which takes on a kind of "full circle" resonance, given Jones's career-defining association with the late saxophonist, and the drummer's own impending passing). Jones's drumming--subtle, graceful, yet polyrhythmically challenging--has plenty of room to shine, especially on his own tune "E.J.'s Blues," where he takes an extended solo. THE TRUTH is a fine set of modern jazz, and a fitting tribute to one of the genre's greatest drummers.Down Beat (p.73) - 3 1/2 stars out of 5 - "In addition to juggling his usual clusters of polyrhythms, Jones strikes some grooves that swing the old-fashioned way.
JazzTimes (p.105) - "Recorded in 1999, when he was at full strength, this was a night for hard blowing at the Blue Note."