Last year our esteemed editor sent me the debut disc of Le Sage’s adventurous tentette. It was an agreeable introduction to a unit which, alas, is only able to function on an occasional basis. Yet, as Peter Clayton observes in his notes to this, their second album, ‘The progress the group has made in terms of cohesion, sense of purpose and, above all confidence, is enormous.’ One senses, too, the same sort of dedication and single-mindedness that pervaded the Miles Davis Birth Of The Cool group. In years to come Directions In Jazz will be seen as the most invigorating and successful mating of a string section with jazz soloists, with the exception of Stan Getz’ Focus and possibly Clifford Brown’s satisfying Mercury LP (still to be released here). Le Sage refrains from messing around in a third stream bag, as Gunther Schuller, John Lewis, Dave Brubeck etc., have done, usually disastrously. He integrates the Freddie Alexander Cello Ensemble into jazz arrangements that leave ample freedom to the soloists. And Alexander’s men show a supple adaptability to his challenging settings.
The line-up is unchanged from Directions In Jazz (Philips BL 7625) so once again we are treated to Bill’s spirited piano and vibes work and the swinging horns of Bob Burns, Johnny Scott and Ronnie Ross. Bob appears to be improving by leaps and bounds. On alto he has developed a quite personal sound – catch him on C Jam and Midriff. The qualities of Scott and Ross require no further enlargement from me. They are readily apparent.
Tony Carr’s drumming should make the generalising condemners of European drummers think again. Spike Heatley on bass is also a tower of strength.
In fact my one grumble about the set does not concern the musicians, but the decision to stick only to Ellington (and Strayhorn) material. I would have preferred a few more of the compelling type of originals which graced that first collection. Nevertheless, congratulations to everyone for music of lasting value. Especially Philips, who made it all possible.
Discography
It Don’t Mean A Thing; Progressive Gavotte; Hiawatha; Prelude To A Kiss; C Jam Blues (21 min) – Midriff; Upper Manhattan Medical Group; Come Sunday; You Better Know It; Lay-by (20 min)
Johnny Scott (alt/flt); Bob Burns (alt/clt); Ronnie Ross (bari/bs-clt); Freddie Alexander, Maurice Westerby, Francis Gabarro, William DeMont (cellos); Bill Le Sage (p/vbs); Spike Heatley (bs); Tony Carr (d). London, 3/5/65.
(Philips BL 7673 12inLP 33s. 1d.)
