Elvin Jones – Puttin It Together (Blue Note Classic Vinyl series)

Description

Elvin Jones 1968 Blue Note debut Puttin It Together marked the start of a new chapter in the master drummers career. Following his six years with the seminal John Coltrane Quartet, and Coltranes death in 1967, Jones signed with Blue Note and began a run of 10 impressive and wide-ranging albums that established his own legacy as a bandleader.

Puttin It Together found Jones in a trio with bassist Jimmy Garrison and multi-instrumentalist Joe Farrell, who is heard on tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute, and piccolo. The spare format let Farrell embark on fantastic solo flights in a lively three-way dialogue between the musicians with highlights including the enticing Brazilian tune Reza, Garrisons playful Sweet Little Maia, and Jones rollicking dedication to his wife Keikos Birthday March.

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal. (via Label)

Puttin It Together marked the start of a new chapter in the legendary drummers career following his six years with the seminal John Coltrane Quartet, and Coltranes death in 1967.

The spare trio album found Jones engaged in a three-way dialogue with bassist Jimmy Garrison and multi-instrumentalist Joe Farrell.

Puttin It Together marked the beginning of a stellar run for Jones, contributing his own albums to Blue Notes rich history alongside the celebrated records he played on like Freddie Hubbards Ready for Freddie, Wayne Shorters Speak No Evil, Joe Henderson Inner Urge, Larry Youngs Unity, and McCoy Tyners The Real McCoy, among many others. After releasing Puttin It Together, he began recording a series of remarkable albums for the label through the early 1970s that included The Ultimate, Poly-Currents, Genesis, and Mr. Jones.

In a 2002 interview with Jazz Times, Jones reflected on his discography and some of his favorite releases. He explained how hes always been partial to Puttin It Together: I like them all but with my schedule I just dont have time to sit and realize what Ive done, one record compared to the othersBut there are two or three I especially like. I like the first one I did on Blue Note Puttin It Together [1968] with the trio of me, Joe Farrell, and Jimmy Garrison. I always liked that.

In that same interview, Jones also reflected on his approach to playing the drums, a style that reverberates through classic albums like Puttin It Together. He explained: The only thing I can think of is that when I play the drums, I try to play them as an instrument. Im not trying to play in only one style. I just try and interpret the music as it comes. I could play, if I wanted to, in a rock n roll band. Id play drumsbut Im not going to play the guitar or anything like that. (via Label)

Label: Blue Note
Series: Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180g
Reissued: 2025 / Original: 1979
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop, Post Bop

File under: Jazz // Blue Note Records