Grachan Moncur III • Evolution

 

Review
by Steve Huey  
One of the New Thing's extremely few trombonists and a greatly underappreciated composer of tremendous evocative power, Grachan Moncur III got his first major exposure on Jackie McLean's groundbreaking 1963 masterpiece, One Step Beyond. Toward the end of the year, most of the same musicians reconvened for Moncur's debut as a leader, Evolution; McLean, vibist Bobby Hutcherson, and drummer Tony Williams are all back, with Bob Cranshaw on bass and an extra voice in trumpeter Lee Morgan, moonlighting from his usual groovy hard bop style. While Moncur takes a little more solo space here, the main emphasis is on his talent as a composer. The four originals are all extended, multi-sectioned works (the shortest is around eight minutes), all quite ambitious, and all terrifically moody; much of the album sounds sinister and foreboding, and even the brighter material has a twisted, surreal fun-house undercurrent. Part of that is due to the accuracy with which the musicians interpret Moncur's vision. Hutcherson provides his trademark floating chordal accompaniment, which is crucial to the overall texture; what's more, the album features some of McLean's weirdest playing ever, and some of Morgan's most impressively advanced, as he makes the most of a situation he longed to be in more often. Of the pieces, "Monk in Wonderland" is the most memorable; its whimsical, angular theme is offset by Hutcherson's mysterious vibes, which create a trippy effect in keeping with the title. "Air Raid" is alternately ominous and terrifyingly frantic, and the funereal title track keeps time only in the pulse of the horns and the backing, which is based entirely on whole notes. With such an inventive debut, it's a shame Moncur didn't record more as a leader, which makes Evolution an even more important item for fans of Blue Note's avant-garde to track down.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/evolution-mw0000197035

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Reseña
por Steve Huey  
Grachan Moncur III, uno de los poquísimos trombonistas de la New Thing y un compositor muy infravalorado con un tremendo poder de evocación, se dio a conocer por primera vez en la innovadora obra maestra de Jackie McLean de 1963, One Step Beyond. Hacia finales de año, la mayoría de los mismos músicos volvieron a reunirse para el debut de Moncur como líder, Evolution; McLean, el vibrista Bobby Hutcherson y el batería Tony Williams están de vuelta, con Bob Cranshaw al bajo y una voz extra en el trompetista Lee Morgan, pluriempleado de su habitual estilo groovy hard bop. Aunque Moncur se toma aquí un poco más de espacio como solista, el énfasis principal recae en su talento como compositor. Los cuatro originales son obras extensas y multi-seccionales (la más corta dura unos ocho minutos), todas bastante ambiciosas, y todas terriblemente malhumoradas; gran parte del álbum suena siniestro y premonitorio, e incluso el material más brillante tiene un trasfondo retorcido y surrealista. En parte se debe a la precisión con la que los músicos interpretan la visión de Moncur. Hutcherson aporta su característico acompañamiento de acordes flotantes, que es crucial para la textura general; es más, el álbum presenta algunas de las interpretaciones más extrañas de McLean, y algunas de las más impresionantemente avanzadas de Morgan, que saca el máximo partido de una situación en la que anhelaba estar más a menudo. De las piezas, "Monk in Wonderland" es la más memorable; su tema caprichoso y anguloso se ve compensado por las misteriosas vibraciones de Hutcherson, que crean un efecto triposo acorde con el título. "Air Raid" es alternativamente ominoso y aterradoramente frenético, y el fúnebre tema que da título al disco mantiene el compás sólo en el pulso de las trompas y el acompañamiento, que se basa enteramente en notas enteras. Con un debut tan inventivo, es una pena que Moncur no grabara más como líder, lo que hace de Evolution un disco aún más importante para los fans de la vanguardia de Blue Note.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/evolution-mw0000197035

Tracks:
1 - Air Raid    9:15
2 - Evolution    12:20
3 - The Coaster    11:36
4 - Monk In Wonderland    7:54


Credits:
    Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean
    Bass – Bob Cranshaw
    Creative Director [Reissue] – Gordon H Jee
    Design [Cover] – Reid Miles
    Design [Reissue] – Amanda Wray
    Drums – Tony Williams*
    Liner Notes [Original] – A. B. Spellman*
    Liner Notes [Reissue] – Bob Blumenthal
    Photography By [Cover Photograph, Liner Photographs] – Francis Wolff
    Producer – Alfred Lion
    Recorded By, Remastered By [2008] – Rudy Van Gelder
    Reissue Producer – Michael Cuscuna
    Trombone, Composed By – Grachan Moncur III
    Trumpet – Lee Morgan
    Vibraphone – Bobby Hutcherson

Notes:
Originally recorded on November 21, 1963 at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Originally issued in 1964 as Blue Note BST 84153

Label:    Blue Note – 50999 2 15365 2 6
Series:    RVG Edition
Country:    US
Released:    2008
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Free Jazz, Contemporary Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/3226510-Grachan-Moncur-III-Evolution

 

 

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