While best known for his legendary work with John Coltrane, drummer Elvin Jones had a significant and important career as a leader, with various incarnations of his Jazz Machine. This one, rarely if ever recorded, is caught in concert in 1981, In between albums Heart to Heart and Earth Jones. He was using a front line of two tenor saxists in Carter Jefferson and Dwayne Armstrong along with guitarist Marvin Home, pianist Fumio Karashima and bassist Andy McCloud.
The two discs are a thunderous lot, with a rich mix of an earthy indigo in “Elvin Jones’ Blues” that has the tenors wailing, as well as some more mellower material like an agonizing “In A Sentimental Mood” and “My One And Only Love” which feature Jones on a classy use of brushes, and Home with Karashima getting a gorgeous spotlight. Jones’ patented triplets are in glorious form on “Friday Night” and “George and Me” with Karashima adding rich flavor on the thunderous 30 minute marathon “Doll Of The Bridge”. Jones gave a workshop and a workout here, and the fact that this might be the only chance to hear the master drummer in this incarnation is even more reason to rejoice.