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 John Christensen that they weren’t overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the experience. The digital mastering enables listeners to fully hear the disparate styles converging, and understand just how advanced Russell’s concepts were, particularly for the time. While not everything worked, the composition ranks alongside Ornette Coleman’s “Free Jazz” as one of jazz’s finest, most adventurous pieces. [source]

Tracks: A: Part One (26:03) / B: Part Two (26:30)

Line up: Red Mitchell – Bass / Jon Christensen – Drums / Terje Rypdal – Electric Guitar / George Russel – Piano / Jan Garvarek – Tenor Saxophone / Manfred Schoof – Trumpet

Recorded live at the Sonja Henie/Niels Onstad Center For The Arts, on April 28th, 1969, at Høvikodden, near Oslo, Norway. The electronic tapes was composed in the Electronic Music Studios (EMS) of the Swedish Radio in Stockholm. The tapes of African vocals and lute was recorded by Cal Floyd in 1967 in Nile headquarters region of North Uganda. Released on Flying Dutchman in 1971.