The Don Ellis Orchestra

April, 1974
Unknown Venue
Audience Recording

Personnel:

Don Ellis, trumpet; Curt Berg, trombone; Bill Mays, piano; Sydney Muldrow, french horn

Tracks:

1. In the Beginning [inc.]
2. Tourista
3. Shades of Loneliness
4. The Great American Rag [beginning missing]
5. Groovin' High [fade-out]
6. Funky Cuntry Five [inc.]
7. Climbin' that Mountain
8. Jupiter's Favorite Child
9. Spanish Isle
10. Now and Forever
11. In the Beginning
12. Lost Within my Mind

Notes:

• Probably two sets, given the presence of the same tune ("In the Beginning") twice.

• This is known by fans as the "Organic Band" because Don used no electronic modifications (not even keyboards) throughout the band, other than amplification. There is also a group of several vocalists present with this version of the band.

• Scott Harris has volunteered to create a write-up of this band. I will post it here when I recieve it from him.

• The date of this show is a matter of dispute. The latest known date of the tunes in this set is the arrangement of "Groovin' High", written in July 1974 (source), but a correspondent says that this is the first band Don formed after his heart attack, which was in early May, 1975. I'm not sure how much time Don took off from performing after this occured, but I assume he would have been back in action by late 1975.

• Another correspondent suggests that the show was recorded in April 1974, but this contradicts the apparent composition date of "Groovin' High" (listed above).

Releases:

Unissued session.