Personnel:
Herb Geller (as), Roy Hargrove, Gerard Presencer (tp), Kenny Drew (p), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b), Mark Taylor (d)
Reference: FSRCD 5070
Bar code: 842732865070
In May 1990, Los Angeles–born alto saxophonist Herb Geller, residing in Berlin since 1962, gathered an exceptional international group at Gema Studios in Barcelona. He brought together his lyrical, Bird-derived voice with American expatriate Kenny Drew (then based in Denmark), Danish bass virtuoso Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, British drummer Mark Taylor, and two brilliant young trumpeters: American Roy Hargrove, fresh from his debut album 'Diamond in the Rough,' and English Gerard Presencer, just seventeen and full of promise.
Originally conceived as a two-album project, only the quartet session (Birdland Stomp, FSRCD-5046) was released at the time. The second set—featuring the two trumpeters—remained unheard for decades, as the original analog tapes had deteriorated over time and become too fragile to play. Recently rediscovered DAT copies have now made it possible to complete the story.
This long-awaited release captures Herb Geller at his most inspired, in the company of remarkable musicians whose interplay bridges generations and continents with grace, energy, and the timeless spirit of jazz.
—Jordi Pujol
