Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra – The Complete Poland Concerts 1976 & 1978

This release presents the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis orchestra’s complete Poland concerts. This is the first time the 1976 performance ever appears on CD, as is the case with the 15-minute version of “Fingers” from the 1978 concert, which is the band’s last preserved collaboration ever.

THAD JONES – MEL LEWIS Orchestra:

1 [1-4]: Thad Jones (cnt), Al Porcino, Frank Gordon, Earl Gardner, Lynn Nicholson (tp), Billy Campbell, John Mosca, Clifford Adams (tb), McIntyre (b-tb), Ed Xiques, Jerry Dodgion (as, sop, fl), Gregory Herbert, Larry Schneider (ts, cl, fl), Pepper (bar), Harold Danko (p), Bob Bowman (b), Mel Lewis (d).
Live at Jazz Jantar, Sopot, Poland August 6, 1976.

CD 2: Thad Jones (tp, cnt, flhrn), Moss, Simo Salminen, Ron Tooley, Irving Stokes (tp), John Mosca, Lollie Bienenfeld, Lu Robertson, Douglas Purviance (tb), Dick Oatts, Steve Coleman (as), Richard “Rich” Perry, Bob Rockwell (ts), Charles Davis (bar), Jim McNeely (p), Jesper Lundgaard (b), Mel Lewis (d).
Live at Jazz Jamboree ‘78, Warsaw, Poland, October 26, 1978.

Bonus tracks: CD1 [5-6]: Same personnel as CD2 except Dick Bienenfeld (tb) added. Berlin, Germany, Oct. 2, 1978.

CD 1:

01. Fingers
02. Thank You
03. Take Ladder
04. Greetings And Salutations
05. Child Is Born
06. The Intimacy Of The Blues.

CD 2:

01. Quietude
02. Samba Con Get Chu
03. Cecilia Is Love
04. I Love You
05. And I You So
06. That’s Freedom
07 Fingers.

BOX 14