The music from this 1968 live recording by Art Farmer is potent, even if the origin of the recordings is sketchy. He leads a fine septet including trumpeter Ernie Royal, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Jimmy Woode, drummer Roy McCurdy, and saxophonist Oscar Estelle (heard on alto, tenor, and baritone). There are no liner notes explaining the origin of this music or identifying the arrangers, but the sound is excellent. "Stars" is an easygoing bossa nova featuring the leader's expressive flügelhorn, while the horn players distort their sound in Farmer's adventurous "Eau Sovage." Woode's walking bass is featured extensively in Fritz Pauer's ballad "Gratuliere." This historical curiosity will be of interest to Art Farmer's fans. - Ken Dryden
Tracks
01. Delphine (H. Salomon)
02. Stars (A. Farmer)
03. Erwagung (E. Kleinschuster)
04. Ala Nove (R. Politzer)
05. Eau Sovage (A. Farmer)
06. Orientierung (E. Kleinschuster)
07. Gratullere (F. Pauer)
HANS SALOMON alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
JIMMY WOODE bass
ERICH KLEINSCHUSTER trombone
ERICH BACHTRÄGEL drums
FRITZ PAUER piano, electric piano
ROBERT POLITZER trumpet
ART FARMER flugelhorn
Recorded March 19, 1968 at the ORF Studios, Vienna, Austria
Studio Songs – YZSO-10047 (Japan)