Have been catching up with these three latest releases today and enjoying them all so far started with Blakey's hard driving 'Indestructible'. It needs to be with the pace it pushes along at and the solos from Morgan and Shorter seem almost desperate with the their speed and excitement. Were they pushing to out do each other, impress Blakey or was Shorter already thinking he would show Miles what he could do, as this was just before he joined the second Quintet. Recorded in 1964 though not released in 1963 as it say on the cover. With Blakey at times in overdrive it's almost all too much.
I knew I would love Una Mas and I do. Have been a fan of his compositions and playing since first hearing him on record. Listening To Una Mas made me dig out my copy of 'Coltrane Time' on the Solid State label, issued in 1963, and I brought in 1970. So nearly 50 years! This is where I first heard and appreciated him, particularly on his own composition 'Shifting Down'. This album was first released under Cecil Taylor's name in 1959 as 'Stereo Drive' with John Coltrane, Chuck lsraels (bass) and Lois Hayes (drums) as well as Taylor and Kenny. Great recording by an engineer called Fernando Vargas who I have never heard of. As this is on Solid State it would make a great Tone Poet release. I hope Joe Harley has heard this one.
Both the above sound excellent as usual. It would seem unlikely they could have better sound and pressing quality as a Tone Poet. Una Mas seems particularly good to me as Herbie Hancock piano is probably at its best for Van Gelder and while not having so spotlighting on solos as some of the other releases there is a certain coherence about it that is very convincing.
Enough distractions, got to get back to listening as still to hear Hub-Tones.
). Can't say the cymbal drop outs on Idris Mohammed's kit really bothered me and his drum patterns are really inventive. The upper harmonics on Melvin Lasties cornet seem to be all there when he is in the right channel. Anyway "The songs the Thang". 
