Composer, theorist, arranger, and pianist
George Russell debuted his 14-part master composition "Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature" on April 28, 1969, at a concert in Norway. The ambitious, elaborate work blended bebop, free, Asian, and blues elements, as well as electronic effects, and mixed live performance with tape and vocal segments. It was a testimony to the prowess of trumpeter
Manfred Schoof, tenor saxophonist
Jan Garbarek, guitarist
Terje Rypdal, bassist
Red Mitchell, and drummer
Jon Christensen that they weren't overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the experience. Good mastering enables listeners to fully hear the disparate styles converging, and understand just how advanced
Russell's concepts were, particularly for the time. The composition ranks alongside
Ornette Coleman's "Free Jazz" as one of jazz's finest, most adventurous pieces. ~ Ron Wynn