BOOKER ERVIN "The In Between" LP 1968 Blue Note NM/NM VAN GELDER

$

58

AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Booker Ervin headed to Blue Note in 1968 for The In Between, a record that found him continuing in the vein of his later Prestige sessions. Supported by trumpeter Richard Williams, pianist Bobby Few, bassist Cevera Jeffries and drummer Lennie McBrowne, Ervin created an album that pushed the boundaries of hard bop. Every song on The In Between is an Ervin original designed to challenge the musicians. The music rarely reaches avant-garde territory -- instead, it's edgy, volatile hard bop that comes from the mind as much as the soul. Appropriately, Ervin balances his full-bodied tone with a forceful, aggressive attack that even sounds restless on the slower numbers. The result is a satisfying, cerebral set of adventurous hard bop that finds Booker Ervin at a creative peak.

Booker Ervin ?– The In Between

Label:

Blue Note ?– BST 84283

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Bestway Press

Country:

US

Released:

1968

Genre:

Jazz

Style:

Hard Bop, Post Bop, Modal

Tracklist

A1 The In Between 7:40

A2 The Muse 7:00

A3 Mour 5:53

B1 Sweet Pea 5:30

B2 Largo 6:20

B3 Tyra 7:30

Companies, etc.

Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Copyright (c) – Liberty Records, Inc.

Record Company – Blue Note Records Inc.

Published By – Booker Ervin Publishing Co.

Mastered At – All Disc Records, Inc.

Lacquer Cut At – Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Pressed By – Bestway Products Inc.

Credits

Bass – Cevera Jeffries Jr.

Design [Cover] – Forlenza Venosa Associates

Drums – Lenny McBrowne

Engineer [Recorded] – Rudy Van Gelder

Lacquer Cut By – Van Gelder*

Liner Notes – Ed Williams (2)

Piano – Bobby Few Jr.*

Producer, Photography By [Cover Photo] – Francis Wolff

Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Written-By – Booker Ervin

Trumpet – Richard Williams (tracks: A1 to B1, B3)

Notes

Recorded on January 12, 1968.

Blue and white label issue with "Blue Note Records - A Division of Liberty Records, Inc."

Pressed by Bestway with metal from All Disc (114 etches scratched out)

VAN GELDER stamped both sides runout

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.