Lament Savage Solwieg ***

As Simon Spillett's admirably detailed notes explain, in the mid-1960s Hayes struggled to find musicians to accompany his hard-bop tenor into freer pastures. By the time of this live 1967 date with the excellent Mike Pyne-Ron Mathewson-Tony Levin rhythm section, Hayes had his wish. He could now push the envelope more, as he and Levin, in particular, do with controlled abandon on the 27 minutes of his celebrated Mexican Greenoriginal. Elsewhere the work was more inside the limits: Lament, a JJ Johnson ballad turned into a stirring march, features superb tenor and piano solos; What Is This Thing Called Loveis a typically virtuoso tenor exhibition at sonic boom speed, more dazzle than content; and Nancy With the Laughing Facehas a gorgeous ballad tenor and piano. Hayes aficionados should note that the sound is rough but listenable. See savagesolwieg records.com