Grachan Moncur III – Some Other Stuff (Blue Note Tone Poet)

Some Other Stuff is a bold and exploratory album by trombonist Grachan Moncur III, recorded in 1964 and released on Blue Note. Backed by a stellar lineup—Wayne Shorter on tenor sax, Herbie Hancock on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Tony Williams on drums—the record pushes beyond the boundaries of traditional hard bop into freer, more abstract territory. Each track is a study in texture, mood, and tension, showcasing Moncur’s distinctive compositional voice.

The music is challenging yet deeply rewarding, blending dissonance, spaciousness, and collective improvisation into a powerful listening experience. Tracks like “Gnostic” and “Thandiwa” reject conventional forms in favor of emotional and structural experimentation, placing the album firmly in the vanguard of 1960s jazz.

• Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio from Original Analog Tapes.
• Produced by Music Matters' Joe Harley.
• Pressed at RTI.

Reviews

“Grachan Moncur III was one of the top trombonists of the jazz avant-garde in the 1960s... This 1964 set was one of his finest.” — AllMusic

“The music of ‘Some Other Stuff’ is pioneering, atmospheric and challenging... If you want to hear innovative jazz this side of 'the free thing' at its best, then surely the second track on the album, ‘Thandiwa,’ is it.” — 100 Greatest Jazz Albums