Until it was reissued in 1998, this was one of the more elusive Impulse sets of the 1960s. Recorded in 1963 and co-led by
John Coltrane's drummer and bassist (
Elvin Jones and
Jimmy Garrison), the music is most significant for introducing
Sonny Simmons (alto and English horn) and
Prince Lasha (flute and clarinet), who are joined in the sextet by underrated baritonist
Charles Davis and
Trane's pianist
McCoy Tyner. Each of the musicians except
Jones contributed an original (there are two by
Davis); the music ranges from advanced hard bop to freer sounds that still swing. While
Garrison's contributions are conventional (this was his only opportunity to lead or co-lead a date),
Jones is quite powerful. However, it is the playing of both
Simmons, who tears it apart on English horn during "Nuttin' Out
Jones," and
Lasha (when is he going to be rediscovered and recorded again?) that make this early "New Thing" date of greatest interest. ~ Scott Yanow