A rare album as a leader from
Teo Macero – one of the driving forces behind some of the key Miles Davis albums on Columbia Records – and other great jazz on that label too! Although
Teo Macero is probably best known as Columbia's jazz producer during their successful early 60s run with Miles, he's also quite a composer in his own right, as you'll hear on this striking set of sides from the late 50s!
Macero splits the album with
Bob Prince – and each of these lesser-known modernists get a side apiece, and fairly free reign in coming up with some wild material. The sound has a little bit of that hip east coast chamber sound that you'd hear in Hal McKusick recordings – but there's also a bit more influences from 20th century modernism, as well as some of the larger Kenton-esque experiments of the early 50s.
Macero's group includes John LaPorta, Eddie Bert, and George Barrow – and
Prince is assisted by Jon Eardley, Phil Woods, and Frank Socolow. A great slice of lost avant playing, and one of the more striking jazz sides in the Columbia catalog! Titles include "Sounds Of May", "Ground Base", "Germination", "24+ 18+", and "Neally".
(Mono 6 eye pressing with deep groove. Cover has some ringwear, light aging, some splitting in the top seam held with clear tape, and is bumped at the top right corner.)