Backgrounder: Jones/Lewis - Consummation

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
August 4, 2023
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Recorded over four sessions in January 1970 and released later that year, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra's Consummation was one of the finest big band albums of the decade. A hit album and Grammy nominee, the LP's eight tracks were composed and arranged by Thad Jones. At the Grammy's the album lost out to Miles Davis's Bitches Brew.

The combined personnel over the four sessions included Thad Jones (fluhrn); Snooky Young, Danny Moore, Al Porcino and Marvin Stamm (tp); Eddie Bert, Benny Powell and Jimmy Knepper (tb); Cliff Heather (bass tb); Jimmy Buffington, Earl Chapin, Dick Berg and Julius Watkins (Fr hon); Howard Johnson (tuba), Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Billy Harper, Eddie Daniels, Richie Kamuca, Pepper Adams and Joe Farrell (reeds and woodwinds); Roland Hanna (p,el p); David Spinozza (g); Richard Davis (b, el b) and Mel Lewis (d).

The tracks are Dedication, It Only Happens Every Time, Tiptoe, A Child Is Born, Us, Ahunk Ahunk, Fingers and Consummation.

Here's the entire album without ad interruptions...

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This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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Track Listing

Dedication; It Only Happens Every Time; Tiptoe; A Child Is Born; Us; Ahunk Ahunk; Fingers; Consummation (46:32).

Personnel

The Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra

Thad Jones

trumpet

Mel Lewis

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Thad Jones, flugelhorn; Snooky Young, Danny Moore, Al Porcino, Marvin Stamm, trumpet; Eddie Bert, Benny Powell, Jimmy Knepper, trombone; Cliff Heather, bass trombone; Jerome Richardson, soprano, alto sax, flute; Jerry Dodgion, alto sax, clarinet, flute; Billy Harper, tenor sax, flute; Eddie Daniels, tenor sax, clarinet, flute; Richie Kamuca (1?3, 8), baritone sax, clarinet; Pepper Adams (4?6), Joe Farrell (7), baritone sax); Roland Hanna, acoustic, electric piano; Richard Davis, acoustic, electric bass; Mel Lewis, drums. Tracks 1, 8, add Jimmy Buffington, Earl Chapin, Dick Berg, Julius Watkins, French horn; Howard Johnson, tuba. Tracks 5, 6, add David Spinozza, guitar.