Search - Great Jazz Trio :: Objects Appear Closer

4-disc box set includes KJLH, Direct From LA, Milestones, an

Test of Time Records | New York, NY | 09/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The four albums included in this precedent-setting box set were originally recorded and released by East Wind between 1977 and 1978 after the Village Vanguard live performance, all with the original

members of Hank Jones, Ron Carter and Tony Williams.



Kindness, Joy, Love, Happiness was the first studio album exclusively featuring The Great Jazz Trio. It was recorded on October 3rd and 4th, 1977 at Warner Brothers Recording Studio in North Hollywood, Los Angeles. The title comes from a local FM radio station, KJLH at 102.3 MHz on the radio dial, then a jazz/crossover outlet. In addition to well known jazz compositions, the album features compositions by each of its members - "Ah, Oui" by Hank Jones, "Doom" by Ron Carter and "Old Folks" by Tony Williams.



The recordings produced for Direct from L.A. were a continuation of the KJLH sessions. It was recorded just a couple days later on October 6th, 1977 at the same studio and has a similar feel as the earlier album.



The third album, Milestones, was recorded on April 5th, 1978 at Sound Idea Studios in New York. In keeping with the tradition of featuring compositions by each of its members, the album includes, "Eighty-One" by Ron Carter, "Hormone" by Hank Jones and "Mr. Biko" by Tony Williams. "Eighty-One" is from the album E.S.P. by Miles Davis and his quintet, which included Ron Carter and Tony Williams. "Hormone" and "Mr. Biko" both are original compositions.



The fourth album, The Great Tokyo Meeting, was recorded at Onkio Haus, a recording studio in Tokyo on July 31st, 1978 following a hugely successful live jazz event that took place a few days earlier on July 29th called "Live Under the Sky" at the Tokyo Den-en Coliseum. This album is unique in that tracks featured are mostly original compositions by each of its members. "Pink Lady" by Tony Williams is a tribute to a Japanese female pop duo of the same name that was extremely popular that year. "G.J.T." written by Ron Carter is a tribute to the trio."