In Concert before we play this tune, I’ll tell the audience “We all have a Master Plan”. I wrote this as a swinging vehicle to swing free and hard on tenor, my main axe. My inspiration was those late 50’s free and swinging trendsetters of the Ornette Coleman Quartet (like the Shape Of Things To Come) with Don Cherry on Trumpet, Charlie Haden on Bass, and Ed Blackwell or Billy Higgins on drums. There is a story I like to tell of when I saw the Dexter Gordon Quartet at the Village Vanguard in about 1975-76, it was his triumphant return to the States, after his long hiatus in Europe, and on a break, Ornette Coleman walked down the steps and into this small, revered room of a jazz institution. He was wearing a dark, pin-striped suit with tie, and the suit was covered in soot; like it needed a real bad dry cleaning. And Dexter and the other beboppers, including Kirk Lightsey on the piano, but as well as other notables in the audience, just walked around him without speaking to the legend or even acknowledging his presence. It was a strange site.
I saw a fair amount of Free style jazz at the reopened Five Spot in the West Village in NYC in the mid 70’s, re-opened for a little bit in 1974 and then closed down for good in 1976 as it could not regain a cabaret card. Cecil Taylor with Jimmy Lyons and Sirone (Norris Jones) in the band, Sun Ra, Don Cherry, Violinist Leroy Jenkins, Drummer Eddie Moore, others. At Sam River’s loft Studio Rivbea in the East Village one night, sitting on an Indian Rug watching his trio with Barry Altschul on Drums and Sirone again on Bass.
I could have played some in those lofts in New York at the time, but I was too busy screwing off. Wasn’t that focused or even good at the time. Did have a great time playing in a Funk Band in Queens, NY in the late 70’s, early 80’s, with Larry and Tony and co. Oh, well. I am a lucky man, however.
Master Plan, a short head, some chords, mixed meter. Slightly unplayable. Influenced by Ornette. Then swinging free. An interlude in between solos. Unfortunately, this is another song that has disappeared in concert. Let’s bring it back! Thanks for listening!