Elvin Jones - Dear John C.

Drummer Elvin Jones may have been breaking down new rhythmic boundaries at the time with John Coltrane's Quartet but his own sessions as a leader were not all that innovative. This quartet set with altoist Charlie Mariano, bassist Richard Davis and either Roland Hanna or Hank Jones on piano is an example of how the avant-garde of the era was starting to influence the more mainstream players. The music is in general safe but enjoyable with the virtuosic bassist Richard Davis often taking solo honors on what was in reality a modern bop date. - by Scott Yanow, AMG

This album is a classic of mid-1960's jazz. Mariano, one of the great invisible talents of the era, plays at the top of his form, Hank Jones and Roland Hanna do priceless work on the piano, and the Richard Davis/Jones rhythm section keeps it loose and flowing throughout. "Everything Happens to Me" is a heartbreaking ballad, but every song is a near-perfect achievement. It's astonishing to me that this CD has gone out of print. I would rate it alongside Shorter's "Speak No Evil," Coltrane's "Live at Birdland," Andrew Hill's "Point of Departure," and so on--one of the ten or twenty masterpieces of a golden age in jazz. - by Jess Row, Amazon.com

Artist: Elvin Jones
Album: Dear John C.
Year: 1965
Label: Impulse
Total time: 42:22

Tracks:
1.  Dear John C. (Bob Hammer/Bob Thiele) 3:54
2.  Ballade (Bob Hammer) 5:19
3.  Love Bird (Charlie Mingus) 3:49
4.  Everything Happens To Me (Matt Dennis/Tom Adair) 5:49
5.  Smoke Rings (Ned Washington/H.E. Gifford) 3:41
6.  This Love Of Mine (Frank Sinatra/Henry Sanicola/Sol Parker) 4:21
7.  Anthropology (Dizzy Gillespie/Charlie Parker) 4:11
8.  Feeling Good (Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley) 4:07
9.  Fantazm (Duke Ellington) 3:57
10.  That Five-Four Bag (Bob Hammer) 3:08

Personnel:
Elvin Jones (Drums)
Charlie Mariano (Alto Saxophone)
Roland Hanna (Piano) - 1,3,5
Hank Jones (Piano) - 2,4,9,10
Richard Davis (Double Bass)