“EVOLUTION.” Grachan Moncur III. Blue Note 84153....

“EVOLUTION.” Grachan Moncur III. Blue Note 84153. The revival of Blue Note offers the chance to re-sample acknowledged classics and the opportunity the investigate the label’s more obscure, experimental ventures in the ‘60s. Trombonist Moncur assembled a stellar supporting cast (Lee Morgan, Jackie McLean, Bobby Hutcherson and Tony Williams), but his first session as a leader is valuable chiefly as an example of how young players were trying to stretch the established boundaries of jazz. The atmospheric tone poems on the first side, full of shimmering Hutcherson chords, fail to click and the return to a more orthodox rhythm approach on the flip side can’t salvage the record. 2 1/2 stars.