Dennis Sandole is most often remembered as a teacher. Among his many distinguished students was fellow Philadelphian John Coltrane. Sandole deepened Coltrane’s interest in harmonic possibilities and in musics of many cultures. He and his brother Adolph, however, were also doers. They made daring exploratory music. Their 1955 Fantasy album Modern Music from Philadelphia was a dramatic demonstration of their ability to be adventurous in harmony and textures while maintaining a firm base in traditional jazz values. The octet they assembled for the project included kindred spirits Art Farmer, John LaPorta, Teo Macero, and other musicians capable of technical virtuosity and creative expression within demanding guidelines. LaPorta’s clarinet trio recordings make fitting companions to the Sandoles’ music, whose freshness and vitality remain undiminished.

with George Barrow, Art Farmer, Jack Keller, Teo Macero, John LaPorta, Al Del Governatore, Wendell Marshall, Milt Hinton, Clem De Rosa