ProJazz.net

Escalator over the Hill (or EOTH) is mostly referred to as a jazz opera, but it was released as a “chronotransduction”, with “words by Paul Haines, adaptation and music by Carla Bley, production and coordination by Michael Mantler”, performed by the Jazz Composer’s Orchestra.

Track listing:
Side one

“Hotel Overture” – 13:11
Side two

“This Is Here…” – 6:02
“Like Animals” – 1:21
“Escalator over the Hill” – 4:57
“Stay Awake” – 1:31
“Ginger and David” – 1:39
“Song to Anything That Moves” – 2:22
Side three

“EOTH Theme” – 0:35
“Businessmen” – 5:38
“Ginger and David Theme” – 0:57
“Why” – 2:19
“It’s Not What You Do” – 0:17
“Detective Writer Daughter” – 3:16
“Doctor Why” – 1:28
“Slow Dance (Transductory Music)” – 1:50
“Smalltown Agonist” – 5:24
Side four

“End of Head” – 0:38
“Over Her Head” – 2:38
“Little Pony Soldier” – 4:36
“Oh Say Can You Do?” – 1:11
“Holiday in Risk” – 3:10
“Holiday in Risk Theme” – 0:52
Side five

“A.I.R. (All India Radio)” – 3:58
“Rawalpindi Blues” – 12:44
Side six

“End of Rawalpindi” – 9:40
“End of Animals” – 1:26
“… And It’s Again” – 8:55 (ends with a locked groove)

Personnel:
Principal cast:

Jack, Parrot: Jack Bruce
Leader, Mutant, Voice, Desert Women: Carla Bley
Sand Shepherd: Don Cherry
Ginger: Linda Ronstadt
Ginger II: Jeanne Lee
David: Paul Jones
Doctor, Lion: Don Preston
Viva: Viva
Cecil Clark: Tod Papageorge
His Friends: Charlie Haden, Steve Ferguson
Calliope Bill: Bill Leonard
Roomer: Bob Stewart
Ancient Roomer: Karen Mantler
Loudspeaker: Roswell Rudd
Used Woman: Sheila Jordan
Operasinger: Rosalind Hupp
Nurse: Jane Blackstone
Yodelling Ventriloquist: Howard Johnson
Therapist: Timothy Marquand
Dad: Perry Robinson
Phantoms, Multiple Public Members, Hotelpeople, Women, Men, Flies, Bullfrogs, Mindsweepers, Speakers, Blindman:
Jane Blackstone, Carla Bley, Jonathan Cott, Sharon Freeman, Steve Gebhardt, Tyrus Gerlach, Eileen Hale, Rosalind Hupp, Jack Jeffers, Howard Johnson, Sheila Jordan, Michael Mantler, Timothy Marquand, Nancy Newton, Tod Papageorge, Don Preston, Bill Roughen, Phyllis Schneider, Bob Stewart, Pat Stewart, Viva

Musicians (alphabetical):
Gato Barbieri – tenor saxophone
Souren Baronian – clarinet
Karl Berger – vibraphone
Carla Bley – organ, celeste, chimes, calliope, piano
Sam Brown – guitar
Jack Bruce – bass, vocal
John Buckingham – tuba
Sam Burtis – trombone
Bob Carlisle – French horn
Don Cherry – trumpet
Roger Dawson – congas, xylophone
Sharon Freeman – French horn
Charlie Haden – bass
Peggy Imig – clarinet
Jack Jeffers – bass trombone
Leroy Jenkins – violin
Howard Johnson – tuba
Sheila Jordan – vocal
Jimmy Knepper – trombone
Jeanne Lee – vocal
Jimmy Lyons – alto saxophone
Michael Mantler – prepared piano, trumpet, valve trombone
Ron McClure – bass
John McLaughlin – guitar
Bill Morimando – orchestra bells, celeste
Paul Motian – drums, dumbec
Nancy Newton – viola
Don Preston – Moog synthesizer
Enrico Rava – trumpet
Perry Robinson – clarinet
Linda Ronstadt – vocal
Roswell Rudd – trombone
Calo Scott – cello
Michael Snow – trumpet
Chris Woods – baritone saxophone
Richard Youngstein – bass

Musicians (chronotransductional):
Orchestra (& Hotel Lobby Band)
Carla Bley (piano)
Jimmy Lyons (alto saxophone)
Gato Barbieri (tenor saxophone)
Chris Woods (baritone saxophone)
Michael Mantler, Enrico Rava (trumpet)
Roswell Rudd, Sam Burtis, Jimmy Knepper (trombone)
Jack Jeffers (bass trombone)
Bob Carlisle, Sharon Freeman (French horn)
John Buckingham (tuba)
Nancy Newton (viola)
Karl Berger (vibraphone)
Charlie Haden (bass)
Paul Motian (drums)
Roger Dawson (congas)
Bill Morimando (orchestra bells, celeste).
Jack’s Traveling Band
Carla Bley (organ)
John McLaughlin (guitar)
Jack Bruce (bass)
Paul Motian (drums)
Desert Band
Carla Bley (organ)
Don Cherry (trumpet)
Souren Baronian (clarinet)
Leroy Jenkins (violin)
Calo Scott (cello)
Sam Brown (guitar)
Ron McClure (bass)
Paul Motian (dumbec)

Original Hotel Amateur Band:
Carla Bley (piano)
Michael Snow (trumpet)
Michael Mantler (valve trombone)
Howard Johnson (tuba)
Perry Robinson, Peggy Imig (clarinet)
Nancy Newton (viola)
Richard Youngstein (bass)
Paul Motian (drums)

Phantom Music:
Carla Bley (organ, celeste, chimes, calliope)
Michael Mantler (prepared piano)
Don Preston (Moog synthesizer)

____________________

Released: 1971
Recorded: 1968–1971
Length: 103:35
Label: JCOA Records (LP)
WATT Records (CD)
Producer: Michael Mantler