AT FILLMORE
(Columbia CG 30243, © 1970)

TRACK LISTING
Final Analysis
Excursion II (John Klemmer / arr. Les Hooper)
The Magic Bus Ate My Donut (Fred Selden)
The Blues
Salvatore Sam
Rock Odessey (Hank Levy)
Hey Jude (Lennon-McCartney / arr. Don Ellis)
Antea (Hank Levy)
Old Man's Tear (John Klemmer)
The Great Divide
Pussy Wiggle Stomp

PERSONNEL
Don Ellis
  trumpet, drums

Saxes & Woodwinds
  Fred Selden
Lonnie Shetter
Sam Falzone
John Klemmer
Jon Clarke

Trumpets & Flugelhorns
  Glenn Stuart
Stu Blumberg
John Rosenberg
Jack Coan
 
Trombones
  Ernie Carlson
Glenn Ferris
Don Switzer - bass trombone
Doug Bixby - contrabass trombone, tuba

Rhythm
  Jay Graydon - guitar
Tom Garvin - piano
Dennis Parker - bass
Ralph Humphrey - drums
Ron Dunn - drums, percussion
Lee Pastora - conga

REVIEW
My first exposure to Don Ellis was this album. I was young at the time, and wasn't sure what to think of it. My friends and I used to play his version of "Hey Jude" and laugh our asses off. We were like "This guy cannot be for real!" Speeding up to present-day, this just might be my favorite Ellis album. It was recorded at Bill Graham's Fillmore West, and the band is really crazy. Don's sense of humor comes through on this recording.

Lots o' good Ellis charts like "Final Analysis" (with the most annoying ending in the world that you're sure to get a kick out of), "The Great Divide," "Salvatore Sam" (featuring Sam Falzone), "Excursion II" (with an inspired solo by a pre-muzak John Klemmer), and a high-speed version of "Pussy Wiggle Stomp." I'm sure the drum routines would be something to see live, but they are a bit tedious on wax. That's not to say they aren't impressive, just really long. I also think Hank Levy's two charts ("Rock Odessey," "Antea") are among his best. All in all, this album is truly inspired and rightfully deserves the recent reissue by Wounded Bird.

A good quote by Don in the liner notes: "We take pride in being able to play the shit out of things that no other bands have even attempted."