Steve Lacy – Roswell Rudd Quintet – Early And Late
Steve Lacy (soprano saxophone), Roswell Rudd (trombone), John Betsch (drums), Jean-Jacques Avenel (bass), Bob Cunningham (bass).
Tracklisting:
Disk 1:
1. The Rent
2. The Bath
3. The Hoot
4. Blinks
5. Light Blue
6. Bookioni
Disk 2:
1. Bamako
2. Twelve Bars
3. Bone
4. Eronel (Take 2)
5. Tune 2
6. Think of One
7. Eronel (Take 3)

Until his death in 2004, soprano saxist Steve Lacy worked with trombonist Roswell Rudd as often as circumstances would permit, from their start together in Dixieland-style bands in the 1950s to the more adventurous styles that both master players are known for. This album of all previously unreleased material with great sound presents work spanning a 40-year period. The majority of this album (nearly 2 hours) is taken from concerts from 1999 and 2002 and features the great 'free-bop' quartet they co-led that featured the rhythm section of Lacy's longtime sextet, Jean-Jacques Avenel on bass and John Betsch on drums. This band's repertoire here features a number of compositions by Lacy as well as one each by Roswell, Thelonious Monk and Herbie Nichols. Additionally there is over 20' of studio recordings (so far, the only studio recordings ever released!!) by the famous 'School Days' quartet (Lacy, Rudd, Bob Cunningham-bass and Denis Charles-drums) from October, 1962! This album was compiled and produced for us by noted Lacy expert Jason Weiss, who contributes short liner notes and pulled together the best performances from the different shows. An essential, swinging, free-jazz release.
Reviews:
"It’s tempting to riff on Early and Late’s historical significance, or wax sentimental about how much Lacy is missed; permit me to get concrete and say that this is a really great album, one of the best jazz releases I’ve heard this year." (Bill Meyer/Dusted)

"...a trombonist of such sweeping power and majesty that he transcends all styles." (New York Times)