At The Monterey Jazz Festival

ジョン・ハンディの長尺曲を収録した代表作

ジョン・ハンディの代表作で1965年にモントレー・ジャズ・フェスティバルで行ったライブ録音。27分の「イフ・オンリー」と19分の「スパニッシュ・レディー」に加え、ボーナストラックとして31分の「Tears Ole Miss」を収録。こちらはヴィレッジ・ヴァンガードにて2年後に録音されたもので、パット・マルティーノ、ボビー・ハッチャーソンらと共演。
ジャズワイズ誌が発表した「世界を揺るがしたジャズアルバム100枚」と題されたリストの67位、Encyclopedia of Popular Musicでは5つ星を獲得するなど、評価も高い。

John Handy's performance at the 1965 Monterey Jazz Festival was a sensation and arguably the high point of his career. The altoist, using a quintet that included violinist Michael White, guitarist Jerry Hahn, bassist Don Thompson, and drummer Terry Clarke (all of whom were young unknowns at the time), played two lengthy songs: the 27-minute "If Only We Knew" and "Spanish Lady," which lasts a mere 19 and a half minutes. After a brief theme, "If Only We Knew" mostly features unaccompanied solos. Handy's opening statement immediately quieted the crowd, which was amazed by the altoist's courage and the logic of the advanced yet tonal music. "Spanish Lady" also has a long Handy statement and builds up to a very exciting conclusion. Even over three decades later, the music sounds fresh, colorful, and innovative. The original Columbia LP (which has been long out of print) had reversed the order of the songs and even their titles so this Koch CD reissue is very welcome on several levels. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow