Don Ellis Orchestra - Shock Treatment (1968)

Don Ellis Orchestra - Shock Treatment (1968)
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Don Ellis was such a talented trumpeter, composer, and organizer that everything he recorded as a leader has at least some unusual moments worth exploring. His big bands were characterized by big brassy arrangements, odd meters that somehow always swung, lots of trumpet solos by Ellis, and an often visceral excitement. Although not equal to his best records such as Electric Bath, this late recording of Ellis' band is filled with all these traits, and thus exudes lots of excitement and electricity. At this stage in his career, the trumpeter seemed to be searching for a breakthrough, perhaps on a popular level. This manifests itself with occasional Age of Aquarius vocals and spacy harmonies that appeal to a broad audience.

Even the more commercial tracks delight with unconventional characteristics, despite their somewhat compromising nature. There is plenty of the "old" Ellis in full view, however, as the band rocks with its well-known and only half in jest "Beat Me Daddy, Seven to the Bar." Ellis was an emotionally powerful and technically proficient player, something that is sometimes overlooked; his feature on "I Remember Clifford" is a minor tour de force. The trumpeter wrote regularly for his band, but also attracted some outstanding composers, such as Hank Levy and Howlett Smith. While the soloists (other than Ellis, of course) were not always of the caliber of some of the competition, they were at a somewhat disadvantage in that they had to learn to play in strange time signatures -- not an easy task.

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Tracklist:
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01. A New Kind of Country
02. Night City
03. Homecoming
04. Mercy Maybe Mercy
05. Zim
06. Opus
07. Star Children
08. Beat Me Daddy, Seven to the Bar
09. Milo's Theme
10. Seven Up
11. The Tihai
12. Zim (alternate take)
13. I Remember Clifford
14. Rasty (bonus track)

*2001 Koch Jazz | KOC CD-8590


Personnel:
Don Ellis - trumpet, arranger
Alan Weight, Ed Warren, Glenn Stuart, Bob Harmon - trumpet
Ron Myers, Dave Sanchez - trombone
Terry Woodson - bass trombone
Ruben Leon, Joe Roccisano - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
Ira Shulman - tenor saxophone, flute, piccolo flute, clarinet
Ron Starr - tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
John Magruder - baritone saxophone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet
Mike Lang - piano, electric piano, clavinet
Frank DeLaRosa, Dave Parlato - bass
Ray Neapolitan - bass, sitar
Alan Estes - vibraphone, percussion
Steve Bohannon - drums
Chino Valdes - bongos, congas
Mark Stevens - timbales, percussion, vibraphone


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