Extensions & Dimensions (Tone Poet Vinyl) (remastered) (180g) [LP]

A saxophonist of striking originality, Sam Rivers' music had a strong avant-garde undercurrent though he kept a foot planted firmly in post-bop and the blues, a sound heard to great effect on his masterful 1964 debut Fuchsia Swing Song.

The last of Rivers' four highly-distinctive Blue Note albums, 1967's Dimensions & Extensions, is fascinating for the presence of trumpeter Donald Byrd who makes a rare foray into the avant-garde alongside Rivers on tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, and flute, James Spaulding on alto saxophone and flute, Julian Priester on trombone, Cecil McBee on bass, and Steve Ellington on drums.

The adventurous album presents six evocative Rivers originals including the declarative "Precis," churning "Effusive Melange," and swinging "Helix." Though it was prepared for release in 1967 with Reid Miles designing an eye-catching cover, the album was shelved and wouldn't see its first release until 1986.