Mostly Other People Do the Killing: Forty Fort
From the liner notes: "When studying the work of the masters, one must try to re-create the conditions that were present during the original sessions. What was going through the minds of the men involved? What factors influenced their decisions? The weather? Travel to and from the various locations? Their health? When Roland Kirk, Tommy Flanagan, Roy Haynes, and Henry Grimes formed a quartet, their personal histories and current tastes combined to create an artistic work of profound significance and historical importance: "Out of the Afternoon."
The world has witnessed countless changes over the course of the 47 years between "Out of the Afternoon" and today. Some of the ideas that were both appropriate and stylish in the 1960's have changed, and certain elements contained here were never "in style" During the intervening decades, many other important musicians added new branches to the jazz tree, some bearing greater and greater weight as their importance waxed while that of others waned.
Haynes and Grimes had been batterie partners with Sonny Rollins, but this was a first meeting between Grimes and Flanagan, a fact made all the more noteworthy by their obvious affinity for verticality and warmth. Kirk had recorded his album "Domino" with Haynes in April 1962, after having worked opposite Haynes' trio at The 5 Spot. Kirk commented on Haynes' punctuality and dapper dress, and was perhaps influenced by the and demeanor of his bandleader. Both lean toward formality and ornamentation.
Consider the follwing: Roland Kirk in this formal quartet setting, despite his unorthodox inclusion of multiple horns; Tommy Flanagan akwardly stiff and out of place; Roy Haynes, bandleader, strangely unperceptive and unprepared; and a suprisingly jocular Henry Grimes. Is the quartet prepared to perform "Out of the Afternoon" amongst the foliage? Hardly. Despite the preparedness of Kirk and Grimes, there is nary a piano in sight, and Mr. Haynes will no doubt grow weary of supporting his cymbal in due time. "
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