Elvin Jones / Time Capsule

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Drummer Elvin Jones' Vanguard recordings of 1975-77, of which this was the final one, generally found him playing with all-stars or augmenting his band with guests. The five obscurities on this LP (three by altoist Bunky Green, who emerges as the date's top soloist) matches Jones with Green, tenor saxophonist George Coleman, the electric piano of Kenny Barron, bassist Junie Booth, guitarist Ryo Kawasaki, and percussionist Angel Allende. Two of the songs ("Frost Bite" and "Digital Display") have bassist Milt Hinton and flutist Frank Wess; the latter piece also adds the soprano of Frank Foster. Overall, the music is worthwhile, although not quite adding up to the sum of its many parts; the set has very little unity despite some individual fireworks.

Elvin Jones
Time Capsule
1977


Tracklist A1 Frost Bite ((Ryo Kawasaki) A2 Digital Display (Ed Bland) 7:57 A3 Moon Dance (Bunky Green) 15:31 B1 Time Capsule (Green) 21:52 B2 Spacing (Green) 30:03

Elvin Jones (dr) Bunky Green (as) George Coleman (ts) Frank Foster (ss) Track A2 Frank Wess (fl) A1, A2 Rio Kawasaki (g) Kenny Barron (e-p) Junie Booth (b) A3, B1, B2 Milt Hinton (b) A1, A2 Angel Allende (perc)



Vanguard Records Recorded: 1977 in New York City