Even before getting to the music contained within, there is a need to make a comment on the information provided within this digipak as it puts these performances into context, with an incredibly informative essay by Ben Hall and some interesting pictures. Sonically, it is hard to believe that this is the first release of these recordings, which were made more than 50 years ago, as if someone had told me they were made last week I would have believed them, such is the quality. This is avant-garde jazz being led and directed by Steve Tintweiss, who is still active today, who was a major player in the late Sixties/early Seventies scene. In 1967 he formed The Purple Why, a septet that also included trumpeter James DuBoise, Mark Whitecage on tenor and flute, baritonist Trevor Koehler, drummer Laurence Cook, and both Judy Stuart and Amy Sheffer on vocals and although the group made an impact at the time, this is actuallt their first release.
It consists of a pair of concert performances from 1968, with the first half taken a performance at St. Mark’s Church that was part of a marathon weeklong benefit for the victims of the Nigerian-Biafran conflict. The Purple Why was the only performing jazz group in a line-up that according to the poster included Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Pete Seeger, Country Joe McDonald and the Fish, Jimi Hendrix, Phil Ochs, Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, Tim Hardin and many others. One wonders if this set was recorded then possibly the others were as well? That would be something worth having.
They were restricted in time for the first set, where they performed a medley of some of their pieces, but the second half featuring them at their Town Hall concert of Sept. 14, 1968. Although they are avant-garde jazz, there are definite links into RIO and there are sections when I am convinced it is Art Zoyd who are playing, but they did not even come into being until a few years after this was recorded. This is not going to be to everyone’s tastes, but there is no doubt that while some people will seek this out due to its historical significance, people should also be looking at this as a fine example of this style of music, and something which shows just how much space and listening to each other can impact the end result as this is simply superb.
Rating: 8/10
Track list:
– St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery [August 21, 1968]
1. Bells Intro
2. Ramona, I Love You
3. How Sweet?
4. Contrapuntal
5. N.E.S.W. Up/Down
6. The Purple Why Theme
7. Closing Announcement
– The Town Hall New York City [September 14, 1968]
8. Universal Heroes
9. Just Be Mine
10. Monogamy Is Out
11. Space Rocks
12. We Are All The Universal Heroes
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/stevetintweissMusic/
https://www.facebook.com/inkyprojects/
