Breaking in his new horn…
Clifford Jordan Quintet – Night of the Mark VII –Time Traveler/Muse/Craft Recordings #TT-M007 – 180 gm stereo vinyl – 1975 – 42:49 – ****
(Muse Master Edition Series – Street Date 10/23/26)
(Clifford Jordan – tenor saxophone; Cedar Walton – piano; Sam Jones – acoustic bass; Billy Higgins – drums)
As part of Time Traveler Recordings re-releases of classic Muse Records issues from the 1970s, in their Master Edition Series, they have found a true gem, from an iconic quartet. Recorded live in Paris at an intimate small club, in March, 1975, saxophonist, Clifford Jordan, was breaking in a brand new (now classic) Selmer Mark VII tenor saxophone. Jordan was backed by a rhythm section of now legendary jazz musicians. Cedar Walton was on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. The result was the recording of Night of the Mark VII.
It was quite common then, in a period of slow times for jazz musicians in the States, for jazz artists to go to Europe, where they were met with adulation by jazz hungry locals. That was certainly the case that evening in Paris. Now remastered on 180 gm vinyl, and cut directly from the original tapes, the result is a “being in the room experience” to hear Jordan and company, happy and exuberant, to share their skills with an adoring audience.
Clifford must have been excited by breaking in a new horn. He certainly covers the whole range of his Selmer here, from low to high, exploring new material (with the exception of Monk’s “Blue Monk.”). Jones and Walton each provide a track, while Jordan wrote “Highest Mountain,” and Bill Lee’s tribute to John Coltrane has a spiritual vein.
It’s a mix of hard bop with side visits to some more free blowing by Clifford.
There is also plenty of solo time for his mates especially on Side B that has two tracks exceeding ten minutes, where the quartet can really stretch out.
“Blue Monk” is done here as a B Flat blues that opens with the familiar theme, before Clifford enters free territory. Cedar has a long solo, and it ends with a soft fade. Lee’s “John Coltrane” goes from pensive to raucous, and Higgins’ cymbals mastery stands out.
The extended tracks, “Midnight Waltz,” (the title is a misnomer), and “One For Amos” are both burners and free wheeling. Clifford roars, while the rhythm section is locked and loaded, with each member getting solo time, and the Parisian jazz fans must have been ecstatic to soak in the opportunity.
The packaging for the this Master Edition release is first class. The album is housed in a Stoughton old style Tip-O jacket. In addition the insert has newly written notes by jazz historian Willard Jenkins, and rare photographs by Raymond Ross.
—Review by Jeff Krow
Clifford Jordan Quintet – Night of the Mark VII
Tracklist:
Side A: John Coltrane (7:45), Highest Mountain (6:02), Blue Monk (7:20)
Side B: Midnight Waltz (10:49), One for Amos (10:53)
