The rarest of all
Don Ellis sessions, Essence matches the trumpeter with pianist
Paul Bley, bassist
Gary Peacock, and either
Nick Martinis or
Gene Stone on drums.
Ellis, who sought during this period to transfer ideas and concepts from modern classical music into adventurous jazz, often experimented with time, tempos and the use of space while still swinging. His renditions of
Billy Strayhorn's "Johnny Come Lately," "Angel Eyes" and "Lover" are quite fresh, he contributes four interesting originals and introduces
Carla Bley's "Wrong Key Donkey" (here simply called "Donkey"). This is thought-provoking music that was certainly way overdue to be reissued.