Marion Brown - Porto Novo (Vinyle translucide rouge)
ORDER LIMITED TO ONE ITEM PER CUSTOMER
Marion Brown - alto saxophone
Maarten van Regteren Altena - bass
Han Bennink - drums
1 LP, standard sleeve
Limited to 1,500 copies
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Transparent Red
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Pallas
Label : ORG Music
Original Label : Polydor
Recorded in Soest, Holland, 14th December 1967.
Engineered by Andre Vande Water
Produced by Foppe Damste
Remastered by Dave Gardner
Originally released in 1969
Reissued in 2020
Tracks:
Side A:
- Similar Limits
- Sound Structure
- Improvisation
Side B:
- QBIC
- Porto Novo
Reviews:
“This was one of altoist Marion Brown's best recordings. Although a very adventurous improviser, Brown usually brought lyricism and a thoughtful (if unpredictable) approach to his music. Accompanied by bassist Maarten van Regteben Altena and drummer Han Bennink for this stimulating session (recorded in Holland), Brown stretches out on five of his compositions and is heard at the peak of his creative powers.” AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow
“While it may be overshadowed by the other Arista releases, Marion Brown’s Porto Novo is an excellent record, one which is nearly as appealing in its own way as the spectacular Ayler Vibrations. For while Brown was hardly one of the giants of the Sixties, his was and is a strongly individual voice, usually heard in tantalizingly small doses as a soloist, as on Coltrane’s Ascension or Shepp’s Fire Music, or even on some of his own records, like Afternoon of a Georgia Faun (ECM) and Why Not? (ESP). In view of Brown’s willingness to stand out of the spotlight, his forthright blowing on Porto Novo may surprise those who didn’t hear the original release of this material on Polydor. He certainly has the ability to fit, chameleon-like, into a variety of situations unlike some stronger voices who tend to play pretty much the same way regardless of the setting.
The Porto Novo session actually left Brown no choice but to come up front and display his individual strengths to their fullest; not only because it is a trio date, but also because of the constant conceptual tension between Brown and Han Bennink who is caught fascinatingly midway between the derivative bebopper of Dolphy’s Last Date (1964) and the fully-armed genius of Topography of the Lungs (1970).
The differences of style can be stated geographically. Bennink is a European drummer who has constructed, amazingly, an approach to percussion as convincing as any contemporary American stylist, but from his own sources. Brown, of course, is from Atlanta, Ga., and demonstrates a deep sense of his own roots in his playing. The contrasting approaches work together in interesting ways: a final balance is achieved even though at times the juxtaposition seems to underline the differences between the two men. Bassist Altena responds to the impulses from both sides and helps hold together a session that comes off beautifully for all the divergent ideas.
Porto Novo is probably the most far reaching statement of Brown the altoist. All the aspects of his individual personality are revealed – what possibly impresses the most is the way Brown can move subtly from one kind of feeling to another yet hold it all together.
The title track, for example, is both an exposition of the high humor of “Homecoming” from Why Hot? and the evocation of the natural world of which Georgia Faun is the ultimate statement. If you have enjoyed any of Brown’s playing on other records, you will want this.” Bells Free-Jazz
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4,5 / 5 , Discogs : 4,34 / 5