1972 Don Rendell Quintet “Space Walk” on Columbia

Rendell’s last title recorded at Landsdowne feels very much a closing chapter to the narrative of his time there, spanning a decade of incredible change in the jazz world, the end of one book and the beginning of another. This is just heavy modal swinging bop, as one might expect, but with the addition of vibes (Peter Shade), a third sax (Stan Robinson on tenor to rival Rendell’s alto and soprano) and a third flute (Rendell, Robinson, Shade) seemingly just to push the envelope a bit. Which it does, and wonderfully! Jack Thorncraft mans the bass for the rock-solid rhythm section with the mighty Trevor Thomkins. It all burns, but it’s also weird and floaty and orbital/airless, with the soprano especially pushing it into the troposphere of Coltrane Acidville, but only for moments, when it returns to a steady boppish groove that still has a sort of spiritual feel from having been that far away from the surface of the earth. I really dig this record and also the ambition behind it, no laurel-sitting for these gents. Slick action, top action, Brit action, space action.