Some more George Russell from his Scandinavian period, with Jan Garbarek making the album cover as featured soloist. The "Othello Ballet Suite" was commissioned by Norwegian television, and this recording made by Radio Sweden in November 1967. Othello offers just under half an hour of Russell's intricate 'vertical form' compositional style and funky arrangements. It occasionally suggests a sort of long-form Mingus composition to my ears - complete with what sounds like little teases of Better Git It In Your Soul as a recurring theme. All great players, including some nice skronky spots for Garbarek to cut loose, and Russell's sextet are backed by the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
The album, originally released in 1970 by Flying Dutchman, is filled out by a solo organ piece improvised by Russell on an Oslo church organ in October 1968. This basic recording was then manipulated at the electronic music studio of Radio Sweden, giving it much more avant-garde textures and making for a fascinating closer on the album.
pw: sgtg