Kenny Cox & The Contemporary Jazz Quintet - Multidirection (Third Man 313 Series)

Detroit has a long tradition of being the farm team for the Big Apple jazz big leagues, but just as important is the acknowledgement of local stars who left their mark on the city by staying and releasing amazing music in Detroit. Kenny Cox and the Contemporary Jazz Quintet is one such group that could have, and definitely should have, had a wider audience in their day, but their recorded legacy continues to grow in estimation. A comprehensive group with no weak links the band featured Kenny Cox on piano, Leon Henderson on tenor saxophone, Charles Moore on trumpet, Ron Brooks on bass, and Danny Spencer on drums. The compositions and playing on Multidirection show the incredible talent and innovation that was brewing in Detroit before, during and after Motown locked its doors in the Motor City. Moore and Cox composed all the material on this record, which Cox described as “more of an orchestral-type effort than just a combo per se,” in the original liner notes by Nat Hentoff. Often the best albums shine brightest as a whole with new dimensions to discover during each listen. This exciting first-ever vinyl reissue is certain to provide the listening experience with the best possible platform.