MICHAEL MANTLER / CARLA BLEY – 13 and 3/4 (LP-1975)

Label: WATT Works – WATT/3, Virgin ‎– WATT/3

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: UK / Released: 1975

Style: Contemporary Jazz, Free Jazz

Recorded August 1975, Grog Kill Studio, NY.

Mixed September 1975, Scorpio Sound, London.

Design [Album] – Paul McDonough

Engineer – Dennis Weinreich

Engineer [Assistant] – John Hunt

Photography By – Li Tjiong

Producer – Carla Bley, Michael Mantler

A – 13 (for Piano and Two Orchestras) .............................................................. 22:00

Conductor, Written-By – Michael Mantler

Alto Saxophone – Buddy Pearson, Don Davis

Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Ken Adams

Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis, Hamiet Bluiett

Baritone Saxophone, Bassoon – Ken McIntyre

Bass – Bill Rich, Dave Moore, Helen Newcombe, Peter Warren

Bass Clarinet – George Barrow

Bassoon – Gail Hightower, Karl Hampton Porter

Cello – Clare Maher, Hank Roberts, Judith Martin, Judy Dolce

Flute – Hal Archer, Patrice Fisher, Paul Moen

Flute, Soprano Saxophone – Nicholas Pike

French Horn – Greg Williams, John Clark, Peter Gordon, Bill Warnick

Oboe – Kathy Karlsen, Mike Lewis, Waldemar Bhosys

Piano – Carla Bley

Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Courtenay Wynter

Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet – Jim Odgren

Tenor Saxophone – Lou Marini, Richard Peck

Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Collin Tilton

Trombone – Gary Brocks, Michael Gibbs, Rex Shrout

Trombone [Bass] – Earl McIntyre

Trumpet – Greg Bobulinski, John Eckert, Lauren Draper, Leonard Goines

Tuba – Bob Stewart, Jack Jeffers

Viola – Al Visscher, Deena Leff, Drusilla Tesch, Mona Hector, Virginia Izzo

Violin – Alice Stern, Betty MacDonald, Brian Conklin, Laurie Schaller, Lila Baker, Michael Levine, Noreen Davis, Oskana Lenec

B – 3/4 (for Piano and Orchestra) ................................................................... 23:45

Soloist, Piano, Conductor, Written-By – Carla Bley

Bass – Peter Warren

Bassoon – Frank Nizzari

Cello – Clare Maher, Hank Roberts

Clarinet – Collin Tilton

Flute [Alto] – Paul Moen

French Horn – John Clark

Harp – Patrice Fisher

Marimba, Vibraphone, Bells [Orchestra Bells], Percussion [Miscellaneous] – David Samuels

Oboe – Roger Janotta

Piano – Ursula Oppens

Trombone – Michael Gibbs

Trumpet – Michael Mantler

Tuba – Bob Stewart

Viola – Michael Levine, Mona Hector

Violin – Betty MacDonald, Kathy Seplow

WATT records was the collaborative label established by composers Bley and Mantler to exclusively present their own music. And just as well, as even in the “golden age” that this was recorded in (1975) you can’t imagine too many record labels saying, “yeah, ok…why not?” to this music. This is a seriously dark and disturbing orchestral/free jazz/minimalist/cacophonous hell fire of an album...

This album paired the then husband-and-wife team of Michael Mantler and Carla Bley, one composition for large orchestra per LP side. Bley's "3/4" for piano and orchestra is a lovely, romantic locomotive of a piece, its clockwork rhythms dancing and chugging along, offering occasional peaks of luxurious, ecstatic release. The piano part, here performed by Bley (played by Keith Jarrett at the piece's premiere), isn't showy or pyrotechnic, blending in at all times with the orchestral writing which is the heart of the composition. "3/4" stands apart from her other work, sharing little in common with the styles evinced on Escalator Over the Hill, for example, and only partially pointing in the direction of the more hermetic offerings of Social Studies. Kurt Weill's presence is felt in the cabaret-ish melodies that surface here and there, but this is still uniquely Bley and, along with Escalator and Tropic Appetites, arguably her finest work. Mantler's "13" (for piano and two orchestras, again with Bley featured) inhabits another universe entirely, an altogether darker and stormier place. It's a magnificent piece, pitting the two orchestras in pitched battle with the piano valiantly struggling to be heard or to make peace -- a losing battle. Over the course of its 22 minutes, the music (much in the style of his writing for the Jazz Composers Orchestra) increases in tonal complexity as well as sheer volume, ending at a decibel level that may leave the listener worried for his/her speakers... it's power and anguish come through with more than enough force and conviction. It's a stirring, difficult work and one of Mantler's shining moments. 13 & 3/4 is very highly recommended if one is lucky enough to come across it.

And everyone looks to be having a very pleasant afternoon in the woods on the back cover, 
so that’s nice.

Listen out loud and enjoy!

If you find it, buy this album!