Kenny Cox and The Contemporary Jazz Quintet - Multidirection
Piano – Kenny Cox
Trumpet – Charles Moore
Bass – Ron Brooks
Drums – Danny Spencer
Tenor Saxophone – Leon Henderson
Written by Kenny Cox (A1, A3), Charles Moore (A2, B1, B3)
1 LP, standard sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33RPM
Size : 12”
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Third Man Pressing
Label : Blue Note 313 Series / Third Man Records
Original Label : Blue Note
Recorded November 26, 1969 at GM Recording Studios-East Detroit, Michigan
Recorded by Jim Bruzzese
Produced by Francis Wolff
Remastered by Warren Defever at Third Man in Detroit
Art Direction by Frank Gauna
Cover design by Bob Venosa, Havona
Liner Notes by Nat Hentoff
Photography by Francis Wolff
Originally released in 1970
Reissued in September 2023
Tracks :
Side A:
- Spellbound
- Snuck In
- Sojourn
Side B:
- Multidirection
- What Other One
- Gravity Point
Reviews :
“Multidirection has as much in common with Blue Note's mildly avant-garde releases of the early '60s as it does the soul-based output typical of 1969. In this sense, one could compare it to Andrew Hill's Grass Roots or Jackie McLean's Jacknife, as soulful yet mildly dissonant hard bop is the order of the day here as well. The most profound difference between the three is the relative absence of household names on Multidirection. Trumpeter Charles Moore contributes three interesting -- if not entirely memorable -- tunes featuring choppy, stutter-step heads. Cox supplies the rest, all of which are decidedly more hard bop in nature. The flying cymbal patterns of drummer Danny Spencer are particularly interesting, as his rapid-fire, tension/release hi-hat style sounds a like a virtual carbon copy of Tony Williams as heard on early avant-garde classics such as Evolution and Out to Lunch. This may delight some listeners and bother others, as Spencer's chops are adequate but nowhere near as tight and tastefully flamboyant as those of the brilliant Williams. Similarly, the group's collective response to Moore's solo on "Snuck In" is again reminiscent of the high-modernist sound on Evolution, though this time it reminds one of Lee Morgan's passage on "Air Raid." Unfortunately, neither Morgan or Williams were present on this date, making it enjoyable but, like a reasonably good sports franchise, lacking the starpower to take it to the next level.” AllMusic Review by Brandon Burke
Rating:
AllMusic 4 / 5 , Discogs 4.59 / 5