During the mid 60's what record wasn't he on? Tony was 17 years old at the time of the recording which was completed 3 and 1/2 weeks shy of his 18th birthday!
He was also on Moncur's other Blue Note album recorded and released after Evolution, Some Other Stuff.
Then you have Jackie McLean (1931-2006), still one of the most underrated alto-men in jazz history years after his death. I don't think I have ever heard an album from Jackie where it didn't sound like his life depended on it?
Then you have one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all-time Lee Morgan (1938-1972), you know you'll have a pretty damned good album potentially. Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson does here, what he did on Eric Dolphy's Out to Lunch, offering a very effective color for the composer Moncur's pallet. I feel like somethings missing when the vibes aren't there with these chamber jazz records.
Then the leader trombonist Grachan Moncur III brings his very forward thinking compositions to be interpreted... and his very effective trombone playing.
"Air Raid" comes out of the gate on a plaintiff melancholy note, only to speed up a swing fairly violently, but gets back to the painful blues of the opening. McLean really eats that up too, his piss and vinegar tone works so well on these inside outside sessions, McLean doesn't sound much like Charlie Parker here that's for sure.
"Evolution" the title track, is some serious chamber jazz stuff. Not much swing here, perhaps it swings in a disjointed way? over 10 minutes of ebbs and flows with odd colors.
"The Coaster" has a very conventional hard-bop theme and swing. Moncur offers some very nice trombone work as well on the track. Hutcherson again colors well in the back ground then solos nicely. McLean also has a wonderful conventional solo. This track fits right in with the all-time hard bop classics of Blue Note easily, love the modal bass groove. 10 minutes well spent.
"Monk in Wonderland" is an aptly titled piece, that does sound like Thelonious Monk, accept the piano roll is given to the vibes of Hutcherson of course as it is on the entire album. McLean again shines bright with more tasty solos. Moncur is really quite underrated as a soloist. I don't read his name on too many all-time lists.
All in all, Evolution is a fine inside outside jazz session. Outside of the title track, it's actually pretty inside to tell you the truth, let the title track grow on you. You can always consider it a rough spot on the journey, but as a whole I really like the album.
This pictured vinyl copy of Evolution was a late 70's Liberty white b label that still set me back nearly 50 bucks, I have seen it as high as 100 dollars on eBay. Originals can fetch several hundred dollars.
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