“Essence” is an album by Don Ellis, recorded on July 14 and 16, 1962, at Pacific Jazz Studios, Hollywood, California, and originally released on Pacific Jazz Records (PJ-55). The Jazz Workshop Vinyl reissue as a 180-gram audiophile LP (JW-117) revives this record with remastering that highlights the trumpet’s brilliance. The lineup features Don Ellis (trumpet), Paul Bley (piano), Gary Peacock (bass), and Gene Stone (drums). The album includes Ellis’s originals like Johnny Come Lately and Slow Space, plus interpretations of standards such as Lover. The music is avant-garde jazz with hard-bop roots, with Ellis’s trumpet bold and inventive, and the ensemble experimenting with rhythms and harmonies. The Jazz Workshop reissue, limited to 500 copies, is prized for its detailed sound, capturing California’s energy and innovative spirit. “Essence” is a landmark record, showcasing Ellis’s vision.
Don Ellis (July 25, 1934 – December 17, 1978) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader, an avant-garde jazz innovator. Born in Los Angeles, he began playing trumpet in his youth, inspired by Dizzy Gillespie and Harry James. In the 1950s, Ellis joined New York’s scene, collaborating with Charles Mingus and George Russell. His style featured experiments with unusual time signatures, polyrhythms, and exotic instruments, making him a pioneer of jazz avant-garde. Ellis recorded numerous albums, including Essence, and led large orchestras, earning acclaim for his innovative approach. Later, he taught, inspiring musicians with his visionary thinking.
TRACKLIST
Side One:
1. Johnny Come Lately (Ellington-Strayhorn) 4:51
2. Slow Space (Don Ellis) 4:30
3. Ostinato (Don Ellis) 7:00
4. Donkey (Carla Bley) 4:34
Side Two:
1. Form (Don Ellis) 10:11
2. Angel Eyes (Dennis-Brent) 4:18
3. Irony (Don Ellis) 5:07
4. Lover (Rodgers-Hart) 3:20
Personnel:
Don Ellis (trumpet), Paul Bley (piano), Gary Peacock (bass), Gene Stone (drums on A #1-3 & B #2,4), Nick Martinis (drums on A #3,4 & B #1,3).
Note: Both drummers play on track #3.
Recorded at Pacific Jazz Studios, Hollywood, California, July 14 & 16, 1962
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