LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Alto saxophonist Marion Brown, a key member of the avant-garde jazz scene, arrived in New York in 1965 where he landed his first session playing on John Coltrane's historic Ascension album. By the end of that same year Brown had already recorded this self-titled debut as front man on ESP-Disk', featuring Alan Shorter on trumpet and Ronnie Boykins on bass. His follow up album for ESP (Why Not?) came the following year, along with his critically acclaimed Three For Shepp on Impulse! (a response to Shepp's Four For Trane), which featured one side of his own compositions and one side of Shepp material. Brown is one of the most talented (if lesser known) players of the '60s jazz avant-garde and this historical release secures his place as one of the major voices in jazz. Also available on LP (GET 1051).