Equinox (Remastered) Jay Migliori

• 1Equinox05:18
• 2Four Brothers04:03
• 3Ya Know04:25
• 4Blue Jay05:32
• 5Lunarey07:08
• 6Davana05:07
• 7Ask Me Now05:03
• 8Ya Know (Take 1) [Bonus Track]07:28
• 9Equinox (Take 3) [Bonus Track]05:14
• 10Four Brothers (Take 4) [Bonus Track]03:31
• Total Runtime52:49

Info for Equinox (Remastered)

Unissued 1984 album from the jazz and session-work saxophonist.

While Jay Migliori’s name may not be familiar to you, you’ve long heard his playing on The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, The Byrds’ Younger Than Yesterday, Jan & Dean’s Surf City, recordings from Cannonball Adderly, Harry Nilsson, Frank Sinatra, and countless Phil Spector productions. Maybe you know him from his work with the Grammy® winning Supersax, or saw him play live with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, or Frank Zappa’s band. To list all of his collaborations would be impossible, but Jay also recorded and released a number of solo albums— including one that almost never saw the light of day.

The 1984 recordings were commissioned by fan, Frances Cunningham, and Migliori entered L.A.’s Sage & Sound studio with pianist Joe Lettieri, drummer Chiz Harris, Conte Condoli on trumpet, and Jim Crutcher on bass. One of the songs, “Equinox” (written by John Coltrane), was a favorite of Jay’s wife, Patti—one that Migliori always dedicated to her on stage, now serves as the album’s title. In addition to other Lettieri originals, the group recorded other notable songs from Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, and more.

What is now Equinox spent years under a desk in California. Luckily, once the tapes were rescued and the music mixed, it was clear that an album needed to be released and the music shared to tell Jay’s story. Its release on Omnivore is thanks in no small part to jazz pianist, author, and historian Lewis Porter, (who worked with the label on the acclaimed Hasaan Ibn Ali Metaphysics). The story is documented in Cary Baker’s liner notes—which also features conversations with Jay’s wife, Patti, and legendary bassist Carol Kaye (whom Jay worked with as a session player).

Newly mixed by Grammy® nominee Brian Kehew and mastered by Grammy®-winning engineer Michael Graves, Equinox is now finally available—produced for release by Patti Migliori and Grammy®-winner Cheryl Pawelski. The release features the original seven album tracks, plus a bonus three alternate takes. It’s how Equinox was meant to be, and more!

Jay Migliori, saxophone

Digitally remastered

Jay Migliori
was born in Pennsylvania in 1930. After graduating from music school, he joined an army band and served in the Korean War. In the mid-1950s he moved to LA and played with Woody Herman, Miles Davis and others, and in the 1960s he became one of the West Coast's leading session players. In 1972, he was a founding member of the jazz group Supersax, for which he won a Grammy in 1973 for "Supersax Plays Bird". In parallel, he released Count The Nights And Times (1975), The Courage (1982) and Smile (1996) as a solo artist. This album was recorded in 1984 and was badly damaged, but when Jay died of colon cancer in 2001, his wife Patti brought it to Omnivore, where it was beautifully restored using the latest technology. It has now been released.

This album contains no booklet.