Grachan Moncur III • Exploration

 

Review by Scott Yanow
Trombonist Grachan Moncur III, who was a member of the Jazztet in the early 1960s, gained his greatest fame for his two Blue Note albums (Evolution and Some Other Stuff) which were quite adventurous. He also worked with Archie Shepp, became involved in free jazz and spent much of the 1970s and '80s as a music educator. Dental problems resulted in Moncur only playing once in a great while in the 1990s. He had been in obscurity for quite awhile when he was contacted by arranger Mark Masters for the Exploration project. Fortunately Moncur's playing proved to still be in his prime. Masters wrote sympathetic charts for many of the trombonist's finest pieces, utilizing an all-star nonet that could really dig into the inside/outside music. "Excursion," a very coherent three-minute free improvisation, is a change-of-pace and precedes the closing blues "Sonny's Back," a 1962 piece originally played by the Jazztet. This CD overall is very rewarding, a dream project for those who have long admired the underrated Grachan Moncur. The musicians have their solos, there are both written and improvised ensembles and Moncur plays wonderfully throughout. This set, which sums up Grachan Moncur's career definitively, is a gem.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/exploration-mw0000362379

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Reseña de Scott Yanow
El trombonista Grachan Moncur III, que fue miembro del Jazztet a principios de los años 60, adquirió su mayor fama por sus dos álbumes para Blue Note (Evolution y Some Other Stuff), bastante aventureros. También trabajó con Archie Shepp, se involucró en el free jazz y pasó gran parte de los años 70 y 80 como educador musical. Problemas dentales hicieron que Moncur sólo tocara de vez en cuando en la década de 1990. Llevaba bastante tiempo en el olvido cuando el arreglista Mark Masters se puso en contacto con él para el proyecto Exploration. Afortunadamente, Moncur demostró que seguía tocando en su mejor momento. Masters escribió arreglos simpáticos para muchas de las mejores piezas del trombonista, utilizando un noneto de estrellas que realmente podía profundizar en la música interior/exterior. "Excursion", una improvisación libre de tres minutos muy coherente, es un cambio de ritmo y precede al blues de cierre "Sonny's Back", una pieza de 1962 interpretada originalmente por el Jazztet. En conjunto, este CD es muy gratificante, un proyecto de ensueño para los que admiran desde hace tiempo al subestimado Grachan Moncur. Los músicos tienen sus solos, hay conjuntos escritos e improvisados y Moncur toca maravillosamente en todo momento. Este conjunto, que resume definitivamente la carrera de Grachan Moncur, es una joya.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/exploration-mw0000362379

www.bluenote.com/Grachan Moncur-III ...

Tracks:
1 - Exploration    8:08
2 - Monk In Wonderland    5:23
3 - Love And Hate    8:45
4 - New Africa    9:52
4.1 - Queen Tamam
4.2 - New Africa
4.3 - Black Call
4.4 - Ethiopian Market
5 - When?    7:32
6 - Frankenstein    6:57
7 - Excursion    2:53
8 - Sonny's Back!    4:13

    
Credits:
    Alto Saxophone – Gary Bartz
    Arranged By, Executive-Producer – Mark Masters (2)
    Artwork – Anthony Cuca
    Baritone Saxophone – Gary Smulyan
    Bass – Ray Drummond
    Design – Todd Reid
    Drums – Andrew Cyrille
    Engineer – Dave Kowalski
    French Horn – John Clark (2)
    Liner Notes – Ed Berger
    Mastered By – Stacy Carson
    Mixed By – Andy Waterman
    Photography – Ron Teeples
    Tenor Saxophone – Billy Harper
    Trombone – Dave Woodley
    Trombone, Composed By – Grachan Moncur III
    Trumpet – Tim Hagans

Recorded in Englewood, New Jersey on June 30, 2004.
Recorded At – Bennett Studios

Label:    Capri Records (6) – 74068-2
Country:    US
Released:    2004
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Contemporary Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/5909910-Grachan-Moncur-III-Octet-Exploration

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