Acoustic Sounds
Lyra
Forces of Nature Live at Slug's
By: Tracking Angle

November 22nd, 2024

Category:

News

Blue Note Releases Never Before Released "Forces of Nature: Live at Slug's"

McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson with Henry Grimes and Jack DeJohnetter

Blue Note Records has released Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs’, a never-before-issued live recording of jazz legends McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson leading a stellar quartet with bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Jack DeJohnette at the hallowed lost NYC jazz shrine, Slugs' Saloon, in 1966. The release was produced by Zev Feldman with Jack and Lydia DeJohnette, and is available now on 2-LP, 2-CD, and digital formats.

 Tyner and Henderson had been forging a strong musical bond on Blue Note through the mid-60s with Tyner appearing on Henderson’s 1963 debut Page One as well as his 1964 albums In ‘N Out and Inner Urge, while Henderson would appear on Tyner’s own Blue Note debut The Real McCoy in 1967. The Slugs set list included two Henderson compositions that were originally recorded on his Blue Note albums: a blistering half-hour exploration of “In ‘N Out” and a joyous romp through “Isotope.”

 Forces of Nature includes an elaborate booklet with rare photos by Francis Wolff, Raymond Ross, and Robert Polillo; plus liner notes by esteemed author and critic Nate Chinen, and interviews and statements with DeJohnette, Jason Moran, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Nasheet Waits, and Terri Lyne Carrington. Originally recorded by the legendary engineer Orville O’Brien — who recorded classic 1960s jazz albums such as Freddie Hubbard’s The Night of the Cookers, Charles Tolliver’s Music Inc. and Alice Coltrane's Journey to Satchidananda — the tape has been in DeJohnette's personal archives for nearly 60 years. The 2-LP 180g vinyl set is transferred from the original tape reel and mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab, who also mastered the 2-CD and digital.

 

Comments

  • 2024-11-22 06:29:01 PM

    Come on wrote:

    Listened to the hires files so far, really great tracks among them, half very good, half poor sounding. Would make sense to buy as vinyl at least if AAA. But as far as I heard about Zev releases, they are all digitally sourced, although the clientele for this music prefers AAA and would pay for the extra. What a pity if so.

  • 2024-11-22 10:54:05 PM

    Scotty wrote:

    Got the 2 LP set delivered today. Will listen to it this evening, but I don't need any audiophile wonder here, I will enjoy this music for what it is and happy they released it. I have many records where Zev is involved and I'm happy with the majority of them. The booklet is a nice touch and nice to get recordings with Henry Grimes on bass. I will come back and give my thoughts on it after I take it for a spin.

    • 2024-11-23 02:25:03 AM

      Come on wrote:

      I also have tons of nice Zev releases and certainly the availability of this stuff has priority over best possible sound (which this one deserves for half of the tracks). Meanwhile I read in the SH Forum, that Luthans confirmed the cut from digital due to impossibility to cut from this tape.

      Anyway I bet that this is not valid for all of such releases, all the RSD ones and all the Plangent ones. I strongly assume, sometimes they try to fix what no one needs fixed. But not here…ok.

  • 2024-11-23 12:51:58 PM

    Scotty wrote:

    The 2 LP set turned out fantastic! One of my favorite jazz releases of the year, easily! For this type of release the sound to my ears is much better than expected, start to finish. These cats were on fire during this performance and if you remember that Maxell tape photo with the dude being blown back in his chair, that was me throughout all four sides. The sound is not perfect, but does it ever sound mighty fine! If you dig the LP format, that's the way to go instead of the CD or streaming.

  • 2024-11-26 06:03:18 AM

    bill schweitzer wrote:

    Is Henderson wearing two pair of sunglasses in the photo? Double exposure?

    • 2024-11-26 03:14:53 PM

      Michael Weintraub wrote:

      Shadow

  • 2024-11-26 08:05:27 PM

    Jeff 'Glotz' Glotzer wrote:

    Yeah I want this, even with the 2nd half issues. The playing is great and the moment captured! I need some Xmas miracles!