I recently took a gander at my favorite local record store’s inventory (Stereo Jack’s in Cambridge), where I picked up CDs by Steve Lacy and Anders Jormin.

Steve Lacy’s The Complete Whitey Mitchell Sessions are, according to this discography, Lacy’s fourth time in a recording studio.  The music is quite far from his 1960’s avant-garde recordings (nothing on this CD could predict The Forest and the Zoo, or Weal and Woe).  In fact, some of it seems down right commercial.  Neil Hefti wrote some of the arrangements.  He’s the guy who wrote the music to the 1960s Batman television series.

Now, having said the word “commercial,” I have to tell you that this is a really fun CD to listen to.  Lacy sounds amazing.  I love the version of “Let’s Get Lost” – it’s possibly my favorite one ever.  A little context might be good.  These recordings are:

• four months before the Cecil Taylor Jazz Advance sessions.
• one year and four months before the Gil Evans Plus Ten sessions.
• one year and seven months before Lacy’s first recording session as a leader (Soprano Today).
• Lacy was almost 22 years old.

A really wonderful recording, worth checking out, and a must-own if you love Lacy’s music.

Re: Anders Jormin’s Xieyi, stay tuned.

Best, R.