I first became aware of Extension in 1964 or 1965 when I took piano lessons with Clare. My jazz record company at the time, Revelation, recorded him then as well as Warne Marsh, Gary Foster, Gary Peacock and others. I may issue more Clare Fischer big band stuff in the future, though I believe Extension is his greatest work. It just holds together perfectly and is singularly original."
A month before his death in January, Fischer wrote a note for the reissue:
I have always written music on my own terms, not bowing to pressure from producers to join in the latest stylistic fads or use the hottest musicians of the day. I recognized the
Similarly, my choice of instrumentation was not convenient for those trying to fit the recordings into existing music categories but it was essential for featuring Jerry exactly as i deemed. His superb tone and expressiveness float immutably over the unconventional woodwind and brass colorings. Consequently, I have never worried about my works standing the test of time because none of them were written with an expriation date in mind!"
This is very difficult musicplaying it is like patting your head and rubbing your stomach simultaneously, and you are constantly faced with concurrent lines and ideas that are going two different directions at once toward the same place."
I will admit that it took me about five listens to fully grasp the excitement and breadth of this album. Fischer is such a pretty folk-jazz arranger that you constantly half-expect Extension to veer into his more melodic resolved approach. But the balance of the album steadfastly remains innovative, forcing you to meet the modern work on its terms.
JazzWax tracks: The newly remastered CD and download of
JazzWax clip: Forget, if you will, that Robert Palmer can't handle this type of material. Instead, focus on the genius of Clare Fischer's arrangement of The Tender Trap:
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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