The Connection was "... a groundbreaking 1959 off-Broadway play from New York City's Living Theater group, written by Jack Gelber... it remains a cultural landmark of both early-1960s jazz and theater--a moment when the jazz world found itself in the service of avant-garde drama. "
There were at least 3 scores for The Connection - the "New Original Score" by Cecil Payne and Kenny Drew, the West Coast score by Dexter Gordon and this, the original by Freddie Redd. David Brent Johnson did a radio show on his Night Lights program:
http://www.indiana.edu/~wfiu/nl_091104connection.htm
I first found the Cecil Payne record at a record show (for $1). I loved the record, and was intrigued by the title. I mean if this is the "New Original" there must be an original "Original". Eventually I managed to get the Freddie Redd/Jackie McLean recordings, the 3 Dexter Gordon recordings, the movie on dvd and the radio show. I'm still looking for the other Freddie Redd recordings done with Howard McGhee and Tina Brooks.
By the way, if you're in Seattle and interested in playing music from The Connection, contact me. I have done transcriptions from all 3 scores and we're working on some of the tunes at Shoreline Community College.
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