Recorded about two years after departing from John Coltrane, and only a couple weeks after his employer’s death, this album captures the legendary drummer Elvin Jones at the obscure NYC club Pookies for one of its weekly residences. The sessions from July 28-30, 1967, seem to capture the essence of his tenure with Coltrane, who left this world that year on July 17.
Jones had a formidable tenor saxist of his own in Joe Farrell, as well as a simpatico team of pianist Billy Greene and bassist Wilbur Little. Farrell is definitely imbibing from Coltrane’s waters, as he digs in on the fierce and frenetic take of “Ginger Bread Boy”, and sears through “Keiko’s Birthday March”. He is his own man, however on the Wagon Wheels-ish read of “On The Trail” and funky on “Raunchy Rita”. Farrell floats on flute over Jones’ brushes on a deft and lovely take of “My Funny Valentine” and glides over Jones nifty sticks before the leader digs in with Little on “Soft, As In A Morning Sunrise”. Green is classy on the bold “M.E” and, while the ivories are bit tinny, he makes them work on the bluesy propulsion of “13 Ave B”.
As for the leader, he is in inspired form, joyfully grunting out the beat on the intros, and getting lots of opportunities for solos, as most of the songs clock in at 16-20 minutes. He almost spontaneously combusts on “Oleo” and “Keiko’s Birthday March”, but even when not soloing, his volcanic undercurrent is just ready to spew out magma at any time.
The 2 disc set also includes some great photos of the tie,as well as some nice interviews by the likes of alumni Pat LaBarbera, Dave Liebman and Gene Perla. Thunder and lightning in modal form.