Composer
George Russell's early-'60s Riverside recordings are among his most accessible. For this set (the CD reissue adds an alternate take of the title cut to the original program),
Russell and his very impressive sextet (which is comprised of trumpeter
Don Ellis, trombonist
Garnett Brown,
Paul Plummer on tenor, bassist
Steve Swallow and drummer
Pete La Roca) are challenged by the complex material; even
Charlie Parker's blues "Au Privave" is transformed into something new. It is particularly interesting to hear
Don Ellis this early in his career. The most famous selection, a very haunting version of "You Are My Sunshine," was singer
Sheila Jordan's debut on records.