Further Listening

Capsule Info: CD two-fer of Gary Bartz' pair of classic social-consciousness albums from the early 1970s. Like a lot of vocal material from that period the lyrics are preachy and unsubtle, but the albums African-roots, political and spiritual consciousness content is moving, and its jazz right on. But then I can resist nothing Andy Bey sings.

Gary Bartz Ntu Troop: JUJU STREET SONGS
Prestige 1972/1973, 1997. Produced by Orrin Keepnews. CD.
Track list I Wanna Be Where You Are Black Maybe Bertha Baptist Africans Unite Teheran Sifa Zote Whasaname Betcha By Golly Dr. Follow's Dance Standin' On The Corner Sing Me A Song Today Musicians Gary Bartz, saxes, vocals, perc, piano Andy Bey, vocals, perc, el piano Stafford James, bass, perc, voice Howard King, drums, perc, voice Hubert Eaves, el piano Hector Centeno, guitar

Capsule Info: CD includes most of FOLLOW THE MEDICINE MAN album also. From Orrin Keepnews liner notes to the CD reissue: " 'Ntu' is a noun suffic in the Bantu language, referring to the common denominator that unified all things--time and space, livnig and dead, forces seen and unseen. Thus, the Ntu troop brings a message of unity, and it is both spiritual and physical unity. Among other things, it is intended to reflect the West and Central African tradition of music as more than just a form of entertainment, having religious and social significance as a method of communication."

Gary Bartz & Leon Thomas: PRECIOUS ENERGY
Mapleshade 1993. Produced by Pierre M. Sprey. CD.
Track list Precious Energy You Treat Me Like A Yo-Yo Sunflowers Cousin Mary Woman Close Your Eyes Boom, Boom, Boom Musicians Gary Bartz, alto sax Leon Thomas, vocals Eddie Henderson, trumpet Rob Butta, piano Geoff Harper, bass Steve Johns, drums

Capsule Info: Recorded live at Ethell's, in Baltimore, March 1987. They've all sounded better, but still interesting. Leon Thomas stretches out "Precious Energy" (recorded as "Sun Song" on a Pharoah Sanders album) to almost 13 minutes.

Chief Bey and Ile Omo Olofi HAMIET BLUIETT EXPLORATIONS 11: CHILDREN OF THE HOUSE OF GOD
Mapleshade 1997. Produced by Pierre M. Sprey. CD.
Track list Yemoja Oduduwa/Precious Lord Mind Your Own Business Samba For Yemoja Motherless Child Oduduwa Medley II Down By The Riverside/When The Saints Go Marching In/Araya Yemoja Old Time Religion/Oniboode Daddy Says Musicians Chief Bey, drums and vocals Baba David Coleman, drums and vocals Canute Bernard, Jr., drums and vocals Larry Washington, drums and vocals Richard Byrd, drums and vocals Stanley Ross, drums and vocals Amba Hawthorne Bey, vocals Barbara Kenyatta-Bey, bg vocals Sharon McKinsey, bg vocals

Capsule Info: Combining traditional Yoruba chants to the Orishas, powertful drumming and percussion, and African-American Christian spirituals, this terrifically recorded album bridges time and culture to show the roots of gospel music and jazz. It gives new meaning to the song "Old Time Religion" and gets to the core of spirituality at the heart of this music. Amazing acoustics as well.

Joe Bonner: ANGEL EYES
Muse 1976. Produced by Joe Bonner and Michael Cuscuna. No CD.
Track list Angele Eyes Love Dance I Do Variations On The Little Chocolate Boy Celebration Interlude Musicians Joe Bonner, piano, bamboo flute Juni Booth, bass Jimmy Hopps, drums Billy Harper, sax Leroy Jenkins, violin Linda Sharrock, vocal

Capsule Info: This is Joe Bonner's second solo album after the end of Pharoah Sanders' tenure with Impulse! While Joe Bonner was a key part of Pharoah's sound after Lonnie Liston Smith, the material here only shows passing reference to that sort of work. Best for Pharoah fans is the 9-minute plus "Celebration". The album also features "Love Dance" which was wonderfully covered by Woody Shaw. Joe Bonner is woefully under-recognized: if his playing since the early 1970s has been in a less fiery context than it was with Pharoah, it's still quite beautiful.

Marion Brown: AFTERNOON OF A GEORGIA FAUN
ECM 1970. Produced by Manfred Eicher. CD Europe.
Track list Afternoon Of A George Faun Djinji's Corner Musicians Marion Brown, sax, perc Anthony Braxton, woodwinds, perc Bennie Maupin, woodwinds, perc Chick Corea, piano, bells, perc Andrew Cyrille, percussion Jeanne Lee, perc Jack Gregg, bass, perc Gayle Palmore, voice, piano, perc William Green, perc Billy Malone, african drum Larry Curtis

Capsule Info: Although I first heard this album in the 1970s--when I was far too young to appreciate it--I confess to being a latecomer to loving Marion Brown's work and hence no expert on the subject. I was at first hesitant to list it in this context, if for no other reason than the fact the his music hints at such creative possibilities and meanings beyond my understanding. While this album is full of percussion you'd be hard-pressed to tap your foot to it: it's not about the rhythm of dance but about the rhythm of life. Taken with the following three Impulse! albums, it's a simply awesome evocation of an experience: of life in the Southern United States, of a bittersweet, half-remembered heritage, of summer heat, of roots and, well, of being. Spiritual the way earth is, this music makes the moment a revelation.

Marion Brown: GEECHEE RECOLLECTIONS
Impulse! 1973. AS-9252. Produced by Ed Michel. CD Japan.
Track list Once Upon A Time Karintha Buttermilk Bottom Introduction Tokalokaloka Ending Musicians Marion Brown, sax, clarinet, perc Leo Smith, trumpet, strings, perc Bill Hasson, narration, percussion James Jefferson, bass, cello, perc Steve McCall, drums, perc A. Kobena Adzenyah, African percussion William Malone, kalimba, perc Jumma Santos, perc, congas

Capsule Info: Continuing and deepening the experience of AFTERNOON... I think this album is also more accessible. It's about the meaning of "home." And oh those Japanese and their wonderfully packaged incredible 20-bit sound: if these CDs are really expensive at least there's some kind of payoff.

Marion Brown: SWEET EARTH FLYING
Impulse! 1974. AS-9275. Produced by Ed Michel. CD Japan.
Track list Sweet Earth Flying Eleven Light City Musicians Marion Brown, sax Paul Bley, electric piano Muhal Richard Abrams, keyboards Bill Hasson, narration, percussion Steve McCall, drums, perc James Jefferson, bass William Malone, kalimba, perc Jumma Santos, perc, congas

Capsule Info: Well some of this music is scorching, it begins to show a mellowness and tranquility as well.

Marion Brown: VISTA
Impulse! 1975. AS-9304. Produced by Ed Michel. CD Japan.
Track list Maimoun Visions Vista Moment of Truth Bismillahi Rrahman Rrahim Musicians Marion Brown, sax Stanley Cowell, piano, mbira Anthony Davis, el piano Reggie Workman, bass Jimmy Hopps, drums Jose Goico, perc, congas Allen Murphy, vocal Bill Braynon, keyboards Harold Budd, keyboards

Capsule Info: Very tranquil and introspective... the unnerving quality of the previous albums turns into a kind of peace and acceptance.

Doug Carn: THE BEST OF DOUG CARN
Universal Sound 1996. Produced by Gene Russell. CD Europe.
Track list Little B's Poem Power And Glory Revelation Chant Western Sunrise The Messenger Naima Mighty Mighty Higher Ground Fatherhood Trance Dance Acknowledgement Sweet Season Jihad Musicians Doug Carn, keyboards Jean Carn, vocals Olu Dara, trumpet Walter Booker, bass Rene McClean, sax, flute Michael Carvin, drums Ronnie Laws, sax Big Black, percussion many others

Capsule Info: Wonderful compilation of material on the legendary Black Jazz label originally issued from 1971 to 1974. Many of the songs have spiritual lyrics: including the vocal (!) versions of John Coltrane's "Naima" and "Acknowledgement" (pt. 1 of "A Love Supreme"). This stuff is great musically and has that wonderful optimism--perhaps naivete in retrospect--of much of early '70s political/spiritual African-American music.

Doug Carn: INFANT EYES
Black Jazz/Ovation 1971. Produced by Gene Russell. CD.
Track list Welcome Little B's Poem Moon Child Infant Eyes Passion Dance Acknowledgement (from "A Love Supreme") Peace Musicians Doug Carn, keyboards Jean Carn, vocals George Harper, saxes, flutes Bob Frazier, trumpet, flugelhorn Al Hall, Jr., trombone Henry Franklin, bass Michael Carvin, drums

Capsule Info: Doug Carn's first (?) album for Black Jazz. Here he sets his style by covering instrumental works by contemporary masters (Coltrane, Tyner, Shorter, Hutcherson, Silver) with lyrics or vocalizations added and sung by his then-wife Jean. By way of interesting comparison, compare this version of "Infant Eyes" to the medley (with "Revelation") featured on Jean Carn's 1979 disco-era album HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU (available on CD). The version of Coltrane's "Welcome" is short but beautiful. The lp jackets of Carn's albums are a slice of history: on each the Carn family appear afro-headed and decked out in dashiki'd and African-garbed finery. Not only is this reissued in Japan, but also by the new owner of Black Jazz holdings, who has begun a domestic (US) reissue campaign that will hopefully be comprehensive.

Doug Carn: SPIRIT OF THE NEW LAND
Black Jazz/Ovation 1972. Produced by Gene Russell. CD Japan.
Track list Dwell Like A Ghost My Spirit Arise And Shine Blue In Green Trance Dance Search For The New Land New Land Musicians Doug Carn, keyboards Jean Carn, vocals George Harper, saxes, flutes Charles Tolliver, flugelhorn Garnett Brown, trombone Earl McIntyre, tuba Al Mouzon, drums

Capsule Info: A typical mix of originals and classic material: the classic material with vocals added for Jean Carn (later vocalist for Norman Connors and for Philadelphia International Records) to sing. If only I had more yen.

Doug Carn: REVELATION
Black Jazz/Ovation 1973. Produced by Ovation. CD Japan.
Track list God Is One Power And Glory Revelation Naima Fatherhood Contemplation Feel Free Time Is Running Out Jihad Musicians Doug Carn, keyboards Jean Carn, vocals Olu Dara, vocals, trumpet Rene McClean, vocals, saxes and flute Nathan Page, guitar Walter Booker, bass Earl McIntyre, bass trumpet Ira Williams, drums

Capsule Info: Deep religious content. Here the Carns add lyrics to McCoy Tyner's "Contemplation" and Coltrane's "Naima."

Don Cherry: SYMPHONY FOR IMPROVISERS
Blue Note 1966. Produced by Alfred Lion. CD.
Track list Symphony for Improvisers Nu Creative Love What's Not Serious Infant Happiness Manhattan Cry Lunatic Sparkle Plenty Om Nu Musicians Don Cherry, cornet Leandro 'Gato' Barbieri, tenor sax Pharoah Sanders, tenor, flute Karl Berger, vibes, piano Henry Grimes, bass Jenny Clark, bass Edward Blackwell, drums

Capsule Info: An avant-garde summit.

Don Cherry: THE SONET RECORDINGS: Eternal Now/Live Ankara
Sonet 1969/1973; Verve 1996 Produced by Keith Knox. 2-CD set Europe.
Track list Gandalf's Travels Ornette's Concept Ornette's Tune St. John & The Dragon Efeler The Creator Has A Master Plan Andaldu Havasi The Discovery of Bhupala Yaz Geldi Gamla Stan Love Train Tibet more Musicians Don Cherry, trumpet, vocal, flute, piano, zurna, gong Selguk Sun, bass Okay Temiz, drums, perc Irfan Sumer, tenor sax, perc Bengt Berger, tibetan bell, african finger piano, cymbals Agneta Arnstrom, tibetan bell, dousso kynia Christer Bothen, piano, dousso nkoni

Capsule Info: Cherry's trajectory away from the Ornette Coleman mode and into third-world and spiritual explorations is revealed in clear and fascinating way in this two-disc set of obscure recordings now released on CD in Europe. In the earliest, Cherry performs with Turkish jazz musicians (yes, they exist) and sings a heartfelt rendition of "The Creator Has A Masterplan." His trumpet dominates, and although it sure doesn't sound like an Ornette record the link is plain to hear. By the later recording, bells and gongs predominate and Cherry has broken all the rules of his old rule-breaking mentor.

Don Cherry: ORGANIC MUSIC SOCIETY
Caprice (Sweden) 1972. Produced by Jan Bruer, Keith Knox and Rita Knox. No CD.
Track list North Brazilian Ceremonial Hymn Elixir/Manusha Raga Kamboji Relativity Suite Terry's Tune Hope The Creator Has A Master Plan Sidartha Utopia & Visions Bra Joe from Kilimanjaro Resa Musicians Don Cherry, trumpet, vocal, harmonium, piano, perc Moki Karlsson (Cherry), vocal, tamboura NaNa (Vasconcelos), berimbau Helen Eggert, vocal, tamboura Hans Isgren, sarangi Bengt Berger, drums, perc Maffy Falay, trumpet Tommy Goldman, flute Tommy Koverhult, flute Tagesiven, bass Okay Temiz, drums H'suan, perc, trumpet Christer Bothen, douss n'gouni youth orchestra and others

Capsule Info: Talk about obscure. While living in Sweden and making "serious" avant garde records with European jazz heavies for international consumption, Don Cherry hooked up with Swedish hippies and expatriates of various stripes to let their hair down in a very cosmic fashion and cut this 2-lp set which seems to have sunk off into obscurity. Much more fun than his serious avant garde work, this record is also full of third world influences and an amazing document of a world gone by. Thanks to Bob Bannister for letting me hear his copy.

Don Cherry: BROWN RICE
A&M/Horizon 1976. Produced by Corrado Bacchelli. CD.
Track list Brown Rice Malkauns Chenrezig Degi-Degi Musicians Don Cherry, trumpet,piano, vocals Charlie Haden, bass Billy Higgins, drums Ricky Cherry, el piano Moki, tamboura Frank Lowe, tenor sax Hakim Jamal, bass Bunchie Fox, electric bongos Verna Gillis, vocals

Capsule Info: From Stanley Crouch's liner notes: "There is joy laced with confidence in this music, and sadness, or pathos, that is as much connected to the Blues as it is to the huge yearning of that sound in Eastern music...This particular record begins with a mantra and ends with the dancing rhythms of an African string instrument. Throughout the record, one can hear the melding of Third World music and mysticism with western instruments."

Don Cherry: HEAR & NOW
Atlantic Records 1977. Produced by Narada Michael Walden. No CD.
Track list Mahakali Universal Mother Karmapa Chenno California Buddha's Blues Eagle Eye Surrender Rose Journey Of Milarepa/Shanti/Liberation Musicians Don Cherry, trumpet, flute, perc, vocals Michael Brecker, sax Colin Walcott, sitar Moki, tamboura Raphael Cruz, percussion Cliff Carter, keyboards Stan Samole, guitar Sammy Figueroa, congas Lois Colin, harp Patty Scialfa, vocals Cheryl Alexander, vocals others

Capsule Info: Coming in out of the far avant garde, this album is a pleasant pop-fusiony creation with Buddhist themes. Narada Michael Walden (a more succesful version of Norman Connors, perhaps) applied the gloss, heavy on latin percussion. And the background vocals are in part by the future Mrs. Bruce Springsteen. "Universal Mother" is a meditation on how "the dharma is everywhere" delivered by Don Cherry's warm voice.

Steve Coleman and The Mystic Rhythm Society in collaboration with AfroCuba de Matanzas:
THE SIGN AND THE SEAL: Transmisions Of The Metaphysics Of A Culture
BMG RCA Victor 1996. Produced by Steve Coleman. CD.
Track list The Diurnal Lord (for Agayu) The Seal (Elekoto for Agayu) Passage Of The River (for Oshun) Oya Natureza Secretos del Abacua Saudade The Metamorphosis of Amalia The Mystery Of Seven: Prologue Guaguanco Abacua/Obatala Son Montuno/Epilogue Musicians Steve Coleman, alto sax Ravi Coltrane, tenor sax Ralph Alessi, trumpet Andy Milne, piano Anthony Tidd, bass Oliver Gene Lake, drums and AfroCuba de Matanzas, vocals, bata, perc others

Capsule Info: Collaboration between American jazz musicians (including Ravi Coltrane) and Cuban percussionists explores jazz mixed with rhythms of Santeria and Abakua; replete with screeching sax and chanted Lucumi. Recorded in Cuba.

Norman Connors: DARK OF LIGHT/DANCE OF MAGIC
Buddah 1972, 1973/Sequel 1993 CD reissue twofer. Produced by Skip Drinkwater & Dennis Willen. CD Europe.
Track list Dance Of Magic Morning Change Blue Give The Drummer Some Dark Of Light Butterfly Dreams Laughter Black Lightnin' Twilight Zone Song For Rosa Musicians Norman Connors, drums, percussion Herbie Hancock, keyboards Carlos Garnett,sax Gary Bartz, sax Stanley Clarke, bass Billy Hart, percussion Cecil McBee, bass Art Webb, flute Alphonse Mouzon, percussion Eddie Henderson, trumpet Lawrence Killian, congas Babafemi, African percussion Nat Bettis, African percussion Airto Moreira, percussion DeeDee Bridgewater, vocals and others

Capsule Info: These two early '70s Norman Connors solo albums predate the pop gloss he applied to his music later in the decade. While far from avant-garde, these are fine early 70s jazz.

Norman Connors: LOVE FROM THE SUN
Buddah 1973. Produced by Skip Drinkwater. No CD.
Track list Revelation Carlos II Drums Around The World Love From The Sun Kumakucha Holy Waters Musicians Norman Connors, drums, percussion Herbie Hancock, keyboards Carlos Garnett, sax Buster Williams Hubert Laws, flute Gary Bartz, sax DeeDee Bridgewater, vocals and others not credited

Capsule Info: Very much still jazz. ("Love From The Sun" featuring the vocals of DeeDee Bridgewater--who also sang it on an early solo album--is available on the CD THE BEST OF NORMAN CONNORS AND FRIENDS).

Norman Connors: SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL/YOU ARE MY STARSHIP
Buddah 1975, 1976/Sequel 1992 CD reissue twofer. Produced by Skip Drinkwater & Dennis Willen. CD Europe.
Track list Saturday Night Special Dindi Maiden Voyage Valentine Love Akia Skin Diver Kwasi We Both Need Each Other Betcha By Golly Wow Bubbles You Are My Starship Just Imagination The Creator Has A Masterplan Musicians Norman Connors, drums, percussion Herbie Hancock, piano Carlos Garnett,sax Gary Bartz, sax Onaje Allan Gumbs, keyboards Reggie Lucas, guitars Hubert Eaves, keyboards Art Webb, flute Shunzo Ono, trumpet Eddie Henderson, trumpet Kenneth Nash, percussion Bill Summers, percussion Noel Pointer, violin John Blake, violin Jean Carn, vocals Phyllis Hyman, vocals Michael Henderson, vocals, bass and others

Capsule Info: The Norman Connors production machine comes into full steam on these two albums, one of which featured his only real hits, the songs that made careers for Phyllis Hyman and Michael Henderson. But there's some nice pop jazz on the second album (including the "Creator Has A Masterplan" brought to earth), and interesting arrangements on the first album.

Norman Connors: SLEWFOOT
Buddah 1977/Unidisc. Produced by Skip Drinkwater. CD Canada.
Track list Mother Of The Future Back On The Street Welcome Slew Foot Dreams Chuka Jump Street Musicians Norman Connors, drums, percussion Ron Carter, bass Reggie Lucas, guitars Lawrence Killian, congas Lonnie Liston Smith, keyboards Gary Bartz, alto saxophone Carlos Garnett, tenor sax Eddie Henderson, trumpet Dom Um Romao, percussion Jean Carn, vocals and others

Capsule Info: A formula Norman Connors album. And yes, that's the vocal version (!) of John Coltrane's "Welcome" being sung by Jean Carn. Recorded in 1974.

Norman Connors: ROMANTIC JOURNEY
Buddah 1977/Right Stuff 1994. Produced by Skip Drinkwater. CD.
Track list You Are Everything Once I've Been There Destination Moon Romantic Journey Last Tango In Paris For You Everything Thembi Musicians Norman Connors, drums, percussion Alphonso Johnson, bass (on "Thembi") Reggie Lucas, guitars Hubert Eaves, keyboards Kenneth Nash, percussion Gary Bartz, alto saxophone Pharoah Sanders, soprano sax (on "Thembi") Ian Underwood, sythesizers Willie Weeks, bass Bobbye Hall, congas and others plus horns and strings

Capsule Info: The remake of "Thembi" shows how Norman Connors tried to remold Pharoah Sanders' direction in tune with the general jazz-pop mood of the late-1970s. This album runs the gamut from disco to fusion lite to ballads to quiet storm. Not for purists, but fun.

Norman Connors: THIS IS YOUR LIFE
Buddah 1977/Sequel 1993. Produced by Skip Drinkwater. CD Europe.
Track list Stella This Is Your Life Wouldn't You Like To See Listen Say You Love Me Captain Connors You Make Me Feel Brand New Butterfly The Creator Musicians Norman Connors, drums, percussion Eleanore Mills, vocals others not listed on CD Pharoah Sanders on "The Creator" Gary Bartz on "The Creator" Jacques Burvick

Capsule Info: Glossy but fun Norman Connors album. Eleanore Mills sings vocals on Herbie Hancock's "Butterfly" and a pleasant rewrite of Pharaoh Sanders' "The Creator Has A Masterplan" featuring solos by Pharoah himself.

Norman Connors And The Starship Orchestra Featuring Miss Adaritha: INVITATION
Buddah 1979. Produced by Norman Connors. Vocals produced by Norman Connors and Jean Carn. No CD.
Track list Your Love Handle Me Gently Be There In The Morning Invitation Together Disco Land I Have A Dream Beijo Partido Kingston Musicians Norman Connors, drums, percussion, vocals Adaritha, vocals Jacques Burvick, el keyboards Duke Jones, trumpet Gary Bartz, alto sax on one cut Jean Carn, vocals Bobby Lyle, keyboards Eddie Henderson, trumpet/ flh The Jones Girls, bg vocals Onaje Allan Gumbs, keys Gregg Hill, guitar Tony Jones, bass Petro Bass, perc Paulinho da Costa, perc Kenny Nash, perc many others plus horns and strings

Capsule Info: "I Have A Dream" is the standout cut: the Connors treatment of Herbie Hancock's 1969 tribute to Dr. King.

Norman Connors: REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE
MoJAzz 1993. Produced by Norman Connors. CD.
Track list Remember Who You Are Only When She Cries Tell Me A Bedtime Story Naima Lush Life You And I others Musicians Norman Connors, drums, percussion Bobby Lyle, keyboards Pharoah Sanders, sax (on "Naima") Marion Meadows, sax Jerry Peters, keyboards Patrice Rushen, keyboards Marcus Belgrave, trumpet Nat Bettis, percussion Stanley Clarke, bass Phyllis Hyman, vocals Angela Bofill, vocals and many others plus strings

Capsule Info: After a long absence Norman Connors returned with an album very much after his late '70s formula: good vocalists, jazz covers, glossy production. Some of this is great, some overproduced dreck.

Norman Connors: EASY LIVING
MoJAzz 1996. Produced by Norman Connors. CD.
Track list One For Mr. C others Musicians Norman Connors, drums, percussion Bobby Lyle, keyboards and many others

Finally electronic production murders the spark of Norman Connors music. Now this is just another adult contemporary album. Oh well. Why would Norman Conors use a drum machine?

Stanley Cowell: REGENERATION
Strata-East 1976, Charly 1998. Produced by Viki McLaughlin & Jerry Venable. CD Europe.
Track list Trying To Find A Way The Gembhre Shimmy Shewobble Parlous Blues Thank You My People Travelin' Man Lullabye Musicians Stanley Cowell, synthesizer, piano, mbira, kora Ed Blackwell, drums, perc Billy Higgins, drum, perc, gembhre Aleke Kanonu, drums Jerry Venable, ac guitar Glenda Barners, vocal Charles Fowlkes, vocal, el bass Kareema, vocals Nadi Quama, mamalekimbe, perc, Madagascar harp Bill Lee, bass Marion Brown, wooden flute Jimmy Heath, sop sax, flutes John Stubblefield, zuna Psyche Wanzandae, flute, harmonica

A stellar cast of musicians perform a wildly diverse set of music. While much of the music veers to the pop then sweeping the jazz world, all of it enjoyably reveals an Afro-centric, spiritual perspective on the world.

Miles Davis: ON THE CORNER
CBS Records 1972. Produced by Teo Macero. CD.
Track list On The Corner New York Girl Thinkin' One Thing And Doin' Another Vote For Miles Black Satin One And One Helen Butte Mr. Freedom X Musicians Miles Davis, trumpet Herbie Hancock, piano Don Alias, percussion John McLaughlin, guitar Colin Walcott, sitar Billy Hart, drums Badal Roy, tabla Teo Macero, sax Carlos Garnett, soprano sax Jack DeJohnette, drums and many others

Capsule Info: Miles Davis didn't have a spiritual period. But he did experiment with African and Indian musical forms and rhythms, and many of the musicians who played with his more spiritual peers passed through his own recordings as well.

Miles Davis: IN CONCERT
CBS Records 1973. Produced by Teo Macero. CD; 2-disc set.
Track list Rated X Honky Tonk Theme From Jack Johnson Black Satin/The Theme Ife Right Off/The Theme Musicians Miles Davis, trumpet Cedric Lawson, keyboards Mtume, percussion Reggie Lucas, guitar Al Foster, drums Badal Roy, tabla Khalil Balakrishna, electric sitar Michael Henderson, bass Carlos Garnett, sax

Capsule Info: 1972 Live Recording, NYC. Miles' extended jam period. Spring for the domestic release in the deluxe packaging: a vast improvement over the Japanese import.

Miles Davis: BIG FUN
CBS Records 1974. Produced by Teo Macero. CD.
Track list Great Expectations Ife Go Ahead John Lonely Fire Musicians Miles Davis, trumpet Herbie Hancock, piano Lonnie Liston Smith, piano Airto Moreira, percussion John McLaughlin, guitar Khalil Balakrishna, sitar, tamboura Bihari Sharma, sitar, tamboura Mtume, African percussion Billy Hart, drums Badal Roy, tabla Sonny Fortune, flute, sax Carlos Garnett, soprano sax Michael Henderson, bass Jack DeJohnette, drums and many others

Capsule Info: More of Miles' early '70s groove.

Earth, Wind & Fire: THE NEED OF LOVE
Warner Bros. 1971. Produced by Joe Wissert. CD.
Track list Energy Beauty I Can Feel It In My Bones I Think ABout Lovin' You Everything Is Everything Musicians Maurice White, drums, perc, vocals Don Whitehead, keyboards, vocals Sherry Scott, voice Yackov Ben Israel, congas, perc Verdine White, bass others

Capsule Info: In an interesting bridge across musical worlds, here on later-supergroup Earth Wind & Fire's second album is the cut "Energy" showing the roots of EWF in the same fertile African-American creative music community in Chicago that produced Jarman et al. Vocalist Sherry Scott, virtually reprises here her work on Joseph Jarman's 1968 album AS IF IT WERE THE SEASONS, in a narration and abstract vocal about prana and energy; of course then things get funkier.

Carlos Garnett: BLACK LOVE
Muse Records 1974. Produced by Joe Fields and Carlos Garnett. CD.
Track list Black Love Ebonesque Banks Of The Nile Mother Of The Future Taurus Woman Banks Of The Nile (alt) Taurus Woman (alt) Musicians Carlos Garnett, saxophones, vocals Charles Sullivan, trumpet Mauricio Smith, flute Mtume, congas Reggie Lucas, guitar Billy Hart, drums Guilherme Franco, percussion Onaje Allan Gumbs, piano Buster Williams, bass Alex Blake, bass DeeDee Bridgewater, vocals Ayodele Jenkins, vocals

Capsule Info: Think Norman Connors. "Mother Of The Future" is one of those tunes that has become an anthem for the UK's acid jazz movement.

Carlos Garnett: JOURNEY TO ENLIGHTENMENT
Muse Records 1974. Produced by Carlos Garnett. No CD.
Track list Let Us Go (To Higher Heights) Chana more Musicians Carlos Garnett, saxophones, vocals Hubert Eaves, keyboards Anthony Jackson, bass Reggie Lucas, guitar Howard King, drums Charles Pulliam, congas, percussion Neil Clarke, percussion Ayodele Jenkins, vocals

Capsule Info: I haven't seen this vinyl in a long time. A handful of its cuts are anthologized across the pHo Records "Freedom Jazz Dance" Series CDs.

Carlos Garnett: LET THE MELODY RING ON
Muse Records 1975. Produced by Carlos Garnett. No CD.
Track list Good Shepherd Senor Trane more Musicians Carlos Garnett, saxophones, vocals Hubert Eaves, keyboards Reggie Lucas, guitar Kiane Zawadi, trombone Olu Dara, trumpet Neil Clarke, percussion Prema, vocals James (Fish) Benjamin, bass John Blake, violin more; plus strings

Capsule Info: I haven't seen this vinyl in a long time either. One of its cuts is anthologized in the pHo Records "Freedom Jazz Dance" Series CDs.

Carlos Garnett: THE NEW LOVE
Muse Records 1977. Produced by Carlos Garnett and John Lee. No CD.
Track list Memories Of Coltrane more Musicians Carlos Garnett, saxophones, vocals Terumasa Hino, trumpet Joe Bonner, keyboards Alphonse Mouzon, drums John Lee, bass Neil Clarke, percussion Guilerme Franco, bongos, perc Otis McClary, guitar Timan, bongos, perc more

Capsule Info: Never seen this, I confess only to knowing it via the stand-out track "Memories Of Coltrane" excerpted below. It's reissue time!

Carlos Garnett: COSMOS NUCLEUS
Muse Records 1978. Produced by Carlos Garnett. No CD.
Track list Mystery Of The Ages Saxy more Musicians Carlos Garnett, saxophones, vocals Kenny Kirkland, keyboards Cecil McBee, Jr., bass Byron Benbow, drums Gene Ballaerd, percussion Cheryl Alexander, vocals Neil Clark, percussion more

Capsule Info: I haven't seen this vinyl in a long time either. One of its cuts is anthologized across the pHo Records "Freedom Jazz Dance" Series CDs.

Carlos Garnett: FIRE
32 Jazz 1997. Compilation produced by Lance Goler. CD.
Track list Chana Saxy Senor Trane Let Us Go To Higher Heights Memories of Coltrane (excerpt) Taurus Woman Musicians Carlos Garnett, saxophones, vocals see original albums

Capsule Info: This compilation of material from Garnett's five Muse albums is as welcome as it is aggravating. The songs are all terrific, spiritual and cosmic, with an edge of commerciality ala Norman Connors. But most of the material reissued here is available elsewhere on CD, and one of the three songs that is not is abbreviated. Garnett's scratchy used vinyl is pricey and in demand: why oh why does promising label 32Jazz not reissue in full the four of his albums still relegated to historical obscurity?

Charlie Haden: "CLOSENESS" DUETS
A&M 1976. Produced by Ed Michel. CD.
Track list Ellen David O.C. For Turiya For A Free Portugal Musicians Charlie Haden, bass in duet with Keith Jarrett, piano Ornette Coleman, alto sax Alice Coltrane, harp Paul Motian, percussion

Capsule Info: Charlie Haden in intimate settings with four of his long-time collaborators. The duet with Alice Coltrane's harp is beautifully contemplative.

Albert "Tootie" Heath: KAWAIDA
1969 ?? Records. Produced by ??. No CD.
Track list Baraka Maulauna Kawaida Dunia Kamili Musicians Jimmy Heath, saxes Albert Heath, drums Buster Williams, bass Don Cherry, trumpet Herbie Hancock, piano Ed Blackwell, perc Mtume (Heath), percussion, congas, voice E. Bonner, flute, perc

Capsule Info: Not wanting to fork out $40 for a used copy I've settled for a taped dupe. This is more properly, I'm told, Albert's son Mtume's first album, and certainly it bears his percussive, and declaratively African nationalist stamp all over it: it's the prequel to Mtume's own ALKEBU-LAN, LAND OF THE BLACKS. It's a great album, with Herbie Hancock at the height of his jazz playing, swahili invocations, lots of percussion, and a deep spiritual vibe throughout. Now I'm looking for Heath's Muse album, FIRST KWANZA.

Jimmy Heath: THE TIME AND THE PLACE
1974 Landmark Records. Produced by Don Schlitten. CD.
Track list The Time And The Place The Voice Of The Saxophone No End The 13th House Fau-Lu Studio Style Musicians Jimmy Heath, saxes, flute, voice Curtis Fuller, trombone, voice Pat Martino, guitar Stanley Cowell, piano, mbira Sam Jones, bass Billy Higgins, drums Mtume (Heath), percussion, congas

Capsule Info: I was looking for Albert Heath's album KAWAIDA featured 2nd generation Heath and prominent kozmigroover Mtume when I found this album featuring a Kente-clothed cover. It's mostly very pleasant older straight ahead jazz, but at moments it shows Mtume's more adventurous influences, especially the wonderful "Fau-Lu" which is exactly the kind of tune that should be listed here, and sounds more like, well, an Mtume record. Meanwhile, anybody got a copy of KAWAIDA they don't need?

(Abdullah Ibrahim) Dollar Brand: AFRICAN SPACE PROGRAM
Enja Records, 1973/1991. Produced by Horst Weber. CD.
Track list Tintiyana, FIrst Part Tintiyana, Second Part Jabulani-Easter Joy Musicians Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand), piano Cecil Bridgewater, trumpet Enrico Rava, trumpet Sonny Fortune, sax, flute Kiani Zawadi, trombone Carlos Ward, flute, sax Cecil McBee, bass Hamiet Bluiett, bass others

Capsule Info: Sorta Duke Ellington meets Sun Ra; from Ellington protege and South African muslim Ibrahim. Recorded in Nov. 1973.

Joseph Jarman: AS IF IT WERE THE SEASONS
Delmark 1996/1968. Produced by Robert G. Koester. CD.
Track list As If It Were The Seasons/ Song To Make The Sun Come Up Song For Christopher Musicians Joseph Jarman, saxes, flutes Charles Clark, bass, cello, koto Thurman Barker, drums Sherri Scott, voice Muhal Richard Abrams, piano John Stubblefield, sax others

Capsule Info: An exemplary AACM set from the creative music scene in Chicago. As Joseph Jarman writes in his liner notes: "WE are here to REVEAL the Revelations of ONE--sprit." Somewhere I read that musicians like the ensemble here (and musicians like Marion Brown, slightly later) sought to explore ways to free drums from the role of timekeeper in jazz: a pursuit of interesting spiritual implication.

Juju: A MESSAGE FROM MOZAMBIQUE
Strata East 1973/Black Fire 1994. Produced by Plunky Branch. CD.
Track list (Struggle) HOME Soledad Brothers Freedom Fighter Make Your Own Revolution Now Father Is Back Nairobi/Chants Musicians Plunky Nkabinde (James Branch), sax, perc Lon Moshe, vibes, flute El Hammel Rasul, keyboards, perc Babatunde Michael Lea, drums, perc, vocals Jalongo Ngoma, congas, perc

Capsule Info: James Plunky Branch's first group, before they became "Oneness Of Juju". Orisha chants, creative jazz, great music. You'll know why he went on to work with Pharoah Sanders.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk: NATURAL BLACK INVENTIONS: ROOT STRATA
Atlantic 1971/32Jazz 1997. Produced by Joel Dorn. CD*.
Track list Something That Trane Could Have Said Island Cry Runnin' From The Trash Day Dream The Ragman and the Junkman... Haunted Feelings Harder & Harder Spritual Black Root more Musicians Rahsaan Roland Kirk, horns, winds, harmonium, perc, drums Sonelius Smith, piano on one cut Maurice McKinley, congas Joe Habao Texidor, perc

Capsule Info: Multi-instrumentalist Kirk's great mostly-solo album where he pushes music limits trying to spiritually convey the African-rooted black American experience. Reissued on CD as part of the collection DOG YEARS IN THE FOURTH RING.

Azar Lawrence: BRIDGE INTO THE NEW AGE
Prestige, 1974. Produced by Orrin Keepnews and Jim Stern. No CD.
Track list Bridge Into The New Age Fatisha Warriors Of Peace Forces Of Nature The Beautiful And Omnipresent Love Musicians Azar Lawrence, saxes Jean Carn, voice Woody Shaw, trumpet Ray Straughter, wood flute Woody Murray, vibes Clint Houston, bass Billy Hart, drums Guillerme Franco, percussion Julian Priester, trombone Hadley Caliman, flute Black Arthur, alto sax Joe Bonner, piano John Heard, bass Ndugu Leon Chancler, drums Mtume, congas, percussion Kenneth Nash, percussion

Capsule Info: McCoy Tyner's early '70s saxophonist steps out with an album full of early-'70s spiritual optimism.

Jonathan Lomax/Nicholas Wrigley: SUNS
OroNeese 1998. CD Europe.
Track list Solar Chamber Spring Sun Sunnus Black Sun Dezoezo Corona Musicians Jonathan Lomax, piano, harmonium Nicholas Wrigley, drum set, bells

Capsule Info: Much of modern, creative music (jazz?) endlessly revisits the same emotional space first opened by the saxophone shriekers of the 1960s: Coltrane, Sanders, Ayler, Coleman. Thirty years later that is a necessary and vital space full of some fiery, intense, and talented musicians. But it shouldn't be the only emotional statement made by jazz musicians to the left ot of the straight-ahead, and here is a marvelous album that proves exactly that point. Lomax and Wrigley conjure up the sound of Alice Coltrane and Rashied Ali, dueting on piano or harmonium and drums or bells. The mood is introspective yet dynamic, avoiding the saccharine blandness of the new age, or the uniform austerity of the ECM sound; while the musicians revisit a different kind of familiar ground their own voice is definitely worth a listen. Available for now from the musicians themselves, this is a record anyone into spiritual jazz ala Alice Coltrane would love.

Cecil McBee: MUTIMA
Strata-East 1974. Produced by Cecil McBee. CD.
Track list From Within Voice Of The 7th Angel Life Waves Mutima A Feeling Tulsa Black Musicians Cecil McBee, bass Jimmy Hopps, drums Onaje Allan Gumbs, keyboards Lawrence Killian, congas DeeDee Bridgewater, vocals Michael Carvin, perc Jabali Billy Hart, perc Art Webb, flute others

Capsule Info: From Geoffrey Hodson's liner notes: "The Legend Of Mutima (forces unseen) is a key to the spirit and culture of Black Africa. Through longing for Oneness with the Universe, mankind and nature are made One by Mutima." A great album.

Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre: FORCES AND FEELINGS
Delmark 1970. Produced by Robert G. Koester. CD.
Track list Behold! God's Sunshine! (2 v) Fifteen Or Sixteen Sun Spots Ananda (2 v) Twenty-One Lines Musicians Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre, saxes, flutes, perc Sarnie Garrett, guitar Fred Hopkins, bass Wesley Tyus, drums Rita Omolokun (Worford), vocals

Capsule Info: Very spiritual entry from AACM alum. Features those typical and very cool alternately declamatory and screechy free jazz vocals. ("Behold! God's sunshine!/Can you see it?/Can You see it in your heart?/It's always there!")

Mtume Umoja Ensemble: ALKEBU-LAN, LAND OF THE BLACKS
Strata-East 1972. Produced by ?. 2LP; No CD.
Track list Invocation Baba Hengates Utamu Saud Alkebu-Lan No Words Separate Not Equal Sifu (The Prayer) Musicians Mtume, conga, tonette horn Carlos Garnett, tenor sax and flute Leroy Jenkins, violin Ndugu (Leon Chancler), drums Gary Bartz, alto, soprano saxes Stanley Cowell, piano Buster Williams, bass Andy Bey, vocal Joe Lee Wilson, vocal Billy Hart, drums Eddie Micheaux, vocal Yusef Imam, vocal Weusi Kuumba, poetry

Capsule Info: Recorded August 29, 1971 at The East, New York. According to Jim Flannery of the Kozmigroove Mailing List, it's "Pretty damn wild...AACM goes to Africa... but I guess I'd have to add 'Pharoahs go to Saturn' to get the picture complete. Starts out with a four-minute speech describing the role of 'these jams' in the service of Black Nationalism... and then backs it up. Cover is black with white line-drawing of a sorta Egyptian-meets-subSaharan figure (Pharoanic beard, pyramids for eyes, goat amulet), back side has an eye-in-pyramid drawing with photo of Mtume leaning against it." Having finally heard this record finally, I love it. While it's certainly dated, it's a fascinating glimpse of the marriage of early 1970s Afro-centric music, politics and spirituality, plus it really grooves. To me reminiscent of Bartz' Ntu Group work, it's more energetic and colorful than those records. A treasure: Strata-East was an extraordinary label.

Mtume: REBIRTH CYCLE
Third Street Records, 1974/1977. Produced by Mtume. No CD.
Track list Sais Yebo Cabral Body Sounds Umoja Musicians Mtume, drums, perc, piano Jean Carn, vocals DeeDee Bridgewater, vocals Tawatha (Agee), vocals Onika, vocals Muktar Mustapha, poet, narration Jimmy Heath, reeds Azar Lawrence, reeds John Stubblefield, reeds Stanley Cowell, piano Reggie Lucas, guitar Pete Cosey, guitar Buster Williams, bass Cecil McBee, bass Leroy Jenkins, violin Dierdre Johnson, cello Billy Hart, drums Michael Henderson, bass Al Foster, drums Bayete, piano others

With credits that read like a who's who of early 1970s jazz, Mtume, then with Miles Davis, produced his third solo album, including one cut with the Miles Davis band sans Miles. This album is full of spirituality, Africanisms, and real jazz. "Umoja" even includes invocations to Obatala, Yemaya, and the other deities of the Yoruba religion/Santeria. Fascinatingly, Mtume and Lucas went on to produce funk, and then disco, and then Madonna, all with a trademark conga plus electric guitar sound. There, I always wanted to include Madonna in this website.

Idris Muhammad: BLACK RHYTHM REVOLUTION/PEACE & RHYTHM
Fantasy 1971; BGP/Ace 1992. Producer not listed. CD Europe.
Track list Express Yourself Soulful Drums Super Bad Wander By The Red Sea Peace Rhythm Brother You Know You're Doing Wrong Don't Knock My Love I'm A Believer Musicians Idris Muhammad, drums, perc Virgil Jones, trumpet Clarence Thomas, sax Kenny Barron, piano Buddy Caldwell, congas Ron Carter, bass Melvin Sparks, guitar Sakinah Muhammad, vocals others

Capsule Info: CD two-fer of funky soul-jazz drummer's solo work. PEACE AND RHYTHM brings Muhammad's Muslim religion into the fray.

Oneness Of Juju: AFRICAN RHYTHMS
Black Fire 1975/1994. Produced by Plunky Branch and Jimmy Gray. CD.
Track list African Rhythms Kazi Funky Wood Tarishi Mashariki Chants Don't Give Up Incognito Poo Too Liberation Dues Musicians Plunky Branch, sax, flute, perc, vocals Muzi Branch, bass, perc Ronnie Toler, drums Philip PeeWee Ford, bass Reginald Brisbane, balaphone Lon Moshe, marimba El Hammel Rasul, keyboards, perc, vocals Babatunde Michael Lea, drums, perc, vocals Eka-Ete Jackie Lewis, vocals

Capsule Info: James Plunky Branch continued his explorations of Africanisms and wonderful grooves, great vocals.

Oneness Of Juju: SPACE JUNGLE LUV
Black Fire 1976/1994. Produced by Plunky Branch and Jimmy Gray. CD.
Track list River Luv Rite Follow Me Soul Love Now Space Jungle Funk The Connection Love's Messenger Bootsie's Lament African Rhythms Chant Musicians Plunky Branch, sax, flute, perc, vocals Muzi Branch, bass, perc Ronnie Toler, drums Ras Mel Melvin Glover Jr., guitars Rafael Solano, congas Alfredo Mojica, timbales Dick Watkins, congas, perc Joe Bonner, piano Lon Moshe, marimba El Hammel Rasul, piano, vocals Babatunde, drums Eka-Ete Jackie Lewis, vocals

Capsule Info: Sounds like the album Pharoah Sanders would have made that year, and indeed, it's full of his alumni. Wonderful vocals. Even chants to the Orishas.

The Pharoahs: AWAKENING
Ubiquity/Luv n Haight 1996. Producer not listed. CD.
Track list Damballa Ibo Tracks Of My Tears Black Enuff Somebody's Been Sleeping Freedom Road Great House Musicians Ealee Satterfield, bass, perc, vocals Shango Njoko, drums, perc Big Willie Woods, horns, drum, vocals Herman Waterford, drum, sax Don Myrick, sax, flute, bells Yehudah Ben Israel, guitar, lead vocal Fred Walker, drums, flute, congas, perc, vocals Oye Bisi Nalls, drums, perc others

Capsule Info: Early 1970s recording of pioneer Afro-Centric jazz/funk ensemble in Chicago; this was where the future Earth Wind and Fire cut their chops.

The Pharoahs: IN THE BASEMENT
Ubiquity/Luv n Haight 1997. Producer not listed. CD.
Track list In The Basement People Make The World Go Round African Roots The Pharoahs Love Y'All Drum Suite Love And Happiness Musicians Ealee Satterfield, bass, perc, vocals Shango Njoko Adefumi, drums, perc Big Willie Woods, horns, drum, vocals Herman Waterford, drum, sax Don Myrick, sax, flute, bells Yehudah Ben Israel, guitar, lead vocal Fred Walker, drums, flute, congas, perc, vocals Oye Bisi Nalls, drums, perc Sulanya Sue Conway, vocals Rahm Lee Davis, trumpet Warren Bingham, guitar others

Capsule Info: Live cuts from 1972 plus more. A great CD reissue.

Courtney Pine: UNDERGROUND
Antilles, 1997. Produced by Courtney Pine. CD.
Track list Intro-Inhale Modern Day Jazz Tryin' Times Oneness Of Mind Invisible (Higher Vibe) The Book Of...(The Dead) Children Of The Sun The In-Sense Song Silver Surfer Underground Outro-Exhale Save The Children Musicians Courtney Pine, sop, tenor sax, flutes, bass cl Cyrus Chestnut, piano, organ, el piano Reginald Veal, double bass Jeff "Tain" Watts, drums DJ Pogo, turntables Jhelisa (Anderson), vocal Nicholas Payton, trumpet Mark Whitfield, guitar

Capsule Info: It's impossible, from this perspective, not to admire saxophonist Courtney Pine's reverence for the music of the 1970s. In the liner notes he thanks, among others, Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Sun Ra, and Carlos Garnett for being the sources of his inspiration. He reaches enticingly for their vibe, but is, in my opinion frustratingly held back both by his attachment to hip-hop scratching on the one end and competent but straight ahead legitimate jazz musicians on the other. It strikes me that for him to break out of the acid-jazz rut he would be well advised to trade in his turntablist for a conga player and some percussionists and run with it. Now that would be a great record. Of like attempt also Steve Williamson's record below.

Sonny Rollins: HORN CULTURE
Milestone 1973. Produced by Orrin Keepnews. CD.
Track list Pictures In The Reflection Of A Golden Horn Sais Notes For Eddie God Bless The Child Love Man Good Morning, Heartache Musicians Sonny Rollins, tenor, soprano sax Walter Davis, Jr., keyboards Y. Masuo, guitar Bob Cranshaw, el bass David Lee, drums Mtume, perc, piano

Capsule Info: I don't generally love Sonny Rollins' work, but this album marked the beginning of his interest in a less straight-ahead jazz sound. The relevant number here is "Sais", a wonderful eleven-minute plus cosmic jam by Mtume (also featured on Mtume's album above and on a record by Lonnie Liston Smith).

Carlos Santana/Mahavishnu John McLaughlin: LOVE DEVOTION SURRENDER
Columbia Records 1973. Produced by Carlos Santana and Mahavishnu John McLaughlin. CD.
Track list A Love Supreme Naima The Life Divine Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord Meditation Musicians Carlos Santana, guitars, perc Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, guitars, piano Khalid Yasin (Larry Young), organ Armando Peraza, congas Billy Cobham, drums Don Alias, drums Jan Hammer, drums Doug Rauch, bass Mike Shrieve, drums uncredited vocals

Capsule Info: Santana's most completely spiritual album was made with Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, the English guitarist who might be considered the driving force of Jazz-Rock Fusion music. Both Mahavishnu and Santana shared the same guru, Sri Chinmoy. Here they cover John Coltrane tunes including "A Love Supreme" (with chanting) and a number of spiritually-focused Mahavishnu songs. Musically it's what a Santana/Mahavishnu Orchestra summit might sound like.

Santana: WELCOME
Columbia Records/ Sony 1973. Producer not listed. CD Europe.
Track list Going Home Love, Devotion & Surrender Samba De Sausalito When I Look Into Your Eyes Yours Is The Light Mother Africa Light Of Life Flame Sky Welcome Musicians Carlos Santana, guitars, perc Armando Peraza, congas Wendy Haas, vocals Leon Thomas, vocals Flora Purim, vocals Maitreya Michael Shrieve, drums Jose Chepito Areas, timbales Doug Rauch, bass Tom Coster, keyboards Richard Kermode, keyboards Airto Moreira, perc Jules Broussard, Soprano saxophone Bob Yance, Flute Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, Guitar Tony Smith, Drums

Capsule Info: My favorite Santana album. The group performs "Going Home" with the Alice Coltrane arrangement from her LORD OF LORDS album, and John Coltrane's "Welcome". This is the same Santana lineup mostly as the following LOTUS album, featuring Leon Thomas.

Santana: LOTUS
Columbia Records/ Sony 1974. Produced by The New Santana Band. CD; 2-disc set.
Track list Going Home A-1 Funk Every Step Of The Way Yours Is The Light Xibaba Stone Flower Free Angela Mantra Kyoto Incident At Neshabur Toussaint L'Ouverture more Musicians Carlos Santana, guitars, perc Leon Thomas, vocals, perc Tom Coster, organ Doug Rauch, bass Michael Shrieve, drums Armando Peraza, congas, perc Jose Chepito Areas, perc Richard Kermode, keyboards

Capsule Info: Recorded live in Japan in 1973, during Santana's more religious period. The multi-panel cover art is full of religious icons combined with trippy space imagery. Leon Thomas is the vocalist, and the group performs "Going Home" with the Alice Coltrane arrangement from her LORD OF LORDS album. The story of Leon Thomas's involvement with Santana is an interesting one. Sadly, unrevealed on this CD is the fact that Santana interpreted many songs from the Leon Thomas/Pharoah Sanders songbook on the tour and those numbers are relegated now to bootleg tapes that offer only an enticing glimmer of that tour's excitement and Leon Thomas' central contribution.

Devadip Carlos Santana: ONENESS: Silver Dreams--Golden Reality
Columbia Records 1979. Produced by Devadip Carlos Santana. CD Europe.
Track list The Chosen Hour Arise Awake Light Versus Darkness Jim Jeannie Transformation Day Victory Silver Dreams Golden Smiles Cry Of The Wilderness Guru's Song Oneness Life Is Just A Passing Parade Golden Dawn Free As The Morning Sun I Am Free Song For Devadip Musicians Devadip Carlos Santana, guitars, perc, chant Greg Walker, vocals Urmila Santana, narration Tom Coster, keyboards Armando Peraza, congas, perc Graham Lear, drums Raul Rekow, percussion Claire Fisher, el piano, string cond. Narada Michael Walden, keyboards others plus strings

Capsule Info: A fairly eclectic solo album from Carlos Santana, with an emphasis on spiritual themes. The first six cuts were recorded live in Osaka, Japan. The gatefold LP cover is filled with quotes from Sri Chinmoy and images of eastern religious icons. The tone of this album might be called "inspirational."

Shanti SHANTI
Atlantic Records 1971. Produced by Richard Bock. No CD.
Track list We Want To Be Free Innocence Out Of Nowhere Lord I'm Comin' Round Good Inside Shanti I Do Believe Musicians Ashish Khan, sarod Zakir Hussain, tabla, perc Neil Seidel, guitar Steve Haehl, vocal, guitar Steve Leach, vocal, bass Frank Lupica, drums Pranesh Khan, tabla

Capsule Info: Not jazz but kind of Crosby Stills and Nash meets Transcendental Meditation. Well, it was 1971, and this is folk rock with Indian instruments and spiritual lyrics.

Sonny Sharrock: ASK THE AGES
Axiom/Island 1991. Produced by Bill Laswell and Sonny Sharrock. CD.
Track list Promises Kept Who Does She Hope To Be? Little Rock As We Used To Sing Many Mansions Once Upon A Time Musicians Sonny Sharrock, el guitar Pharoah Sanders, saxophones Elvin Jones, drums Charnett Moffatt, bass

Capsule Info: Cool cover with a mandala of world religious images. Sharrock and Sanders first played together in Sanders' 1966 album TAUHID.

Woody Shaw: THE WOODY SHAW CONCERT ENSEMBLE AT THE BERLINER JAZZTAGE
Muse 1977/32 Jazz 1998. Produced by Michael Cuscuna. CD*.
Track list Hello To The Wind Obsequious Jean Marie In The Land Of The Blacks (Bilad As Sudan) Musicians Woody Shaw, trumpet, perc Rene McLean, alto sax, flute, perc Frank Foster, tenor and sop sax Slide Hampton, trombone, perc Ronnie Matthews, piano Stafford James, bass Louis Hayes, drums

Capsule Info: I've long debated whether to list the late Woody Shaw's many fine albums on my site. THE MOONTRANE, LOVE DANCE, CASSANDRANITE, SONG OF SONGS are great records full of kozmigroov elements, great grooves, and many of the players whose names repeat on this page over and over. This one is not really more or less eligible than the others but it gives a nicely rounded portrait of a player who was at least a fellow-traveller of the kozmik. This one is a live date from 1976, and Shaw's playing sounds more like Freddie Hubbard than Miles. *On CD as part of the two-disc compilation WOODY SHAW: TWO MORE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE.

Archie Shepp: YASMINA, A BLACK WOMAN
BYG 1969/Charly 1995. Produced by Jean Georgakarakos and Jean Luc Young. CD Europe.
Track list Yasmina, A Black Woman Sonny's Back Body And Soul Musicians Archie Shepp, tenor sax, vocal Clifford Thornton, cornet Lester Bowie, trumpet Arthur Jones, alto sax Roscoe Mitchell, bass sax Dave Burrell, piano Malachi Favors, piano Earl Freeman, bass Philly Joe Jones, drums Sunny Murray, drums, perc Art Taylor, rhythm logs Laurence Devereaux, balafon

Capsule Info: Recorded in Paris in 1969 when African-American jazz musicians were flocking to Europe (or should I say escaping from America?), resulting in a creative explosion. The long title track is a percussive, chant-laden, fierce collision of avant garde, European and African sensibilities.

Archie Shepp: THINGS HAVE GOT TO CHANGE
1971 Impulse AS-9212. Produced by Ed Michel. CD Japan.
Track list Money Blues Dr. King, The Peaceful Warrior Things Have Got To Change Musicians Archie Shepp, saxophones Joe Lee Wilson, vocal James Spaulding, sax, flute Grachan Moncur III, trombone Roland Wilson, bass Beaver Harris, drums Cal Massey, piano, arrangements Romulus Franceschini, electronics & arrangements Leroy Jenkins, violin Howard Johnson, sax Calo Scott, cello, perc plus other percussionists horns and vocal chorus

Capsule Info: An angry and emotional concept album (the chorus chants "Things Gotta Change God Dammit") featuring the brilliant work of Cal Massey and Romulus Franceschini. The form is like a revival meeting: the singing builds on a beat that becomes increasing persistent, the blues change to rage; the the feeling is of being in church as spirit descends, sweeping a tide of emotion over the participants and the listeners. On the title cut electronics and Leroy Jenkins' violin add a spacey flavor over a fierce African rhythm.

Archie Shepp: ATTICA BLUES
1972 Impulse AS-0000. Produced by Ed Michel. CD Japan.
Track list Attica Blues Steam Blues For Brother George Jackson Ballad For A Child Goodbye Sweet Pops Sweet Dawn Musicians Archie Shepp, saxophones Joe Lee Wilson, vocal Marion Brown, sax, perc, flute Cornell Dupree, guitar Roland Wilson, bass Jimmy Garrison, bass Beaver Harris, drums Cal Massey, piano, flugelhorn, arrangements Romulus Franceschini, conductor & arrangements Leroy Jenkins, violin John Blake, violin L Shankar, violin Billy Higgins, drums Calo Scott, cello, perc William Kunstler, narration Walter Davis Jr., keyboards plus other percussionists, horns and vocalists

Capsule Info: A second concept album featuring the arranging work of Cal Massey and Romulus Franceschini complete with narration by radical lawyer William Kunstler memorializing the brutal suppression of the prison uprising at Attica. The tone is less angry than bittersweet, the final message one of spiritual hope.

Archie Shepp: THE CRY OF MY PEOPLE
1972 Impulse AS-9231. Produced by Ed Michel. CD Japan.
Track list Rest Enough (Song To Mother) A Prayer All God's Children Got A Home The Lady The Cry Of My People African Drum Suite Come Sunday Musicians Archie Shepp, saxophones Joe Lee Wilson, vocal Peggy Blue, vocal Cornell Dupree, guitar Harold Mabern Jr., piano Ron Carter, bass Bernard Purdie, drums Cal Massey, conductor & arrangements Romulus Franceschini, conductor & arrangements Leroy Jenkins, violin John Blake, violin Guilherme Franco, berimbau, perc Dave Burrell, keyboards Nene DeFense, percussion plus strings, other percussionists, horns and vocalists

Capsule Info: Cal Massey's final work, this marries gospel traditions to avant garde jazz to orchestral string arrangements in a moving presentation of music as spiritual hope and resistance.

Archie Shepp: KWANZA
1974(?) Impulse AS-9262. Produced by Ed Michel. CD Japan.
Track list Back Back Spoo Pee Doo New Africa Slow Drag Bakai Musicians Archie Shepp, saxophones and vocal Leon Thomas, vocal Jimmy Owens, trumpet Grachan Moncur III, trombone Walter Booker, bass Beaver Harris, drums Cedar Walton, piano Dave Burrell, organ Wally Richardson, guitar Robin Kenyatta, flute Andy Bey, piano Pretty Purdie, drums Woody Shaw, trumpet Doris Troy and Tasha Thomas, vocals others

Capsule Info: Recorded in 1968 and 1969, this is kind of an African-diasporic music sampler, covering blues, funk, avant garde jazz and all manner of rhythms; dedicated to the newly created African-American holiday of Kwanza. An all-star cast; a great CD reissue package.

Sun Ra: THE FUTURISTIC SOUNDS OF SUN RA
Savoy 1962/Dennon 1993. No producer listed. CD.
Track list Bassism Of Wounds And Something Else Whats That Where Is Tomorrow The Beginning China Gates New Day Tapestry From An Asteroid Jet Flight Looking Outward Space Jazz Reverie Musicians Sun Ra, piano John Gilmore, sax, clarinet Marshall Allen, sax, flute, bells Pat Patrick, sax Bernard McKinney, horns Ronald Boykins, bass Willie Jones, drums Ricky Murray, vocal Leah Ananda, congas, percussion

Capsule Info: Sun Ra predated Pharoah Sanders, and in general is a ball of wax too large for this website to chew. Which is not to say that his pioneering use of non-jazz rhythms and outer-space imagery are not exactly what I'm talking about. This album is a great introduction, a premonition of what was to come at the end of the decade. Marshall Allen could have taught Pharoah everything he knew. From the original liner notes: "Though he is well aware of the commercial impact of the 'space' costumes of his group, he is yet sincerely dedicated to the belief that the dawning of the Space Age offers mankind one last chance to achieve harmony, unity, and peace."

Sun Ra: THE NUBIANS OF PLUTONIA
1974 Impulse AS-9242 (earlier El Saturn; later Evidence CD). Produced by Ihnfinity Inc. and Alton Abraham. CD.
Track list Plutonian Nights The Golden Lady Star Time Nubia Africa Watusa Aiethopia Musicians Sun Ra, keyboards, bells Marshall Allen, sax, flute, perc John Gilmore, sax, bells, perc Ronnie Boykins, bass Pat Patrick, sax, space lute, perc Bill Fielder, trumpet Nate Pryor, trombone James Spaulding, alto sax Charles Davis, baritone sax Robert Barry, drums Jim Herndon, drums, congas, perc

Capsule Info: When I first picked this album out of a cut-out bin in Chicago's Hyde Park in 1976, I had no idea it had actually been recorded in 1958 and 1959. It sounded as eye-opening and fresh as the other material from the same cutout bin (the famous end of Impulse! that brought me Pharoah and Alice). The incredible cover and photographs, the bent but seductive music were stuff I would invite friends over to see and hear in absolute disbelief. Who would have though twenty years later it still sounds as exciting. This was prescient music for the late 1950s: it was as though this were recorded in a time machine mixing up 1970s percussion and Africanisms (yes, chanting included) alternating with offcolor 1950s bop. An electric piano in 1959? This guy was a genius. Of course this was licensed by Impulse! from El Saturn in an ill-fated if timely episode; now reissued on a great CD by Evidence as a two-fer with another Impulse!/Saturn album: ANGELS AND DEMONS AT PLAY.

Randy Weston: THE SPIRITS OF OUR ANCESTORS
Antilles/Polygram 1992. Produced by Randy Weston, etc.. CD; 2-disc set.
Track list African Village Bedford-Stuyvesant 1 The Healers African Cookbook La Elaha-Ella Allah/Morad Allah The Call African Village Bedford-Stuyvesant 2 The Seventh Queen Blue Moses African Sunrise A Prayer For Us All Musicians Randy Weston, piano Melba Liston, arrangements Pharoah Sanders, sax, gaita Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet Idrees Sulieman, trumpet Billy Harper, sax Dewey Redman, sax Jamil Nasser, bass Big Black, percussion Yassir Chadly, perc, vocals Idris Muhammad, drums others

Capsule Info: Afro-Centric bigband music; much of it influenced by the Gnawa musicians of Morocco.

Michael White: PNEUMA
Impulse! 1972. AS-9221. Produced by Ed Michel. No CD.
Track list Pneuma, parts 1 to 5 Ebony Plaza Journey Of The Black Star The Blessing Song Musicians Michael White, violin Edwin Kelly, piano Ray Drummond, bass Kenneth Nash, perc Faye Kelly, vocal Leola Sharp, vocal D. Jean Skinner, vocal Joyce Walker, vocal

Capsule Info: A less abstract player than fellow avant-garde violinist Leroy Jenkins, Michael White plays wonderfully spacey violin, to that early '70s outjazz rhythm. Vocals on two tunes. Impulse! in the early 1970s was an amazing record label.

Steve Williamson: JOURNEY TO TRUTH
Verve Forecast/Talkin' Loud/Nippon Phonogram 1994. Produced by Steve Williamson and Kazuhiko Yanagida. CD.
Track list Meditation Journey To Truth Oh Africa Africa Africa Affirmation Celestial Blues The Pffat Factor-Part 1 Who Dares The Pffat Factor-Part 2 They Don't Wanna Hear It! The Pffat Factor-Part 3 Rough Pffat Time Antigua How Ya Livin? Blakk Planets Evolver Musicians Steve Williamson, tenor sax, bells, alto sax, keys, programming Sola Akingbola, perc Jhelisa Anderson, vocals Anthony Tidd, piano Marc Cyril, bass Ahmir Khalib Thompson, drums Henri Jelani Defoe, guitar Michael Mondesir, bass Jason Rebello, el piano Noel McKoy, vocals Black Thought, rap Dennis Rollins, trombone

Capsule Info: At times more successful (musically that is, commercially this sadly sank without notice) than Courtney Pine's similar (see above) attempt to echo the cosmic vibe in an acid-jazz/hiphop context, Steve Williamson also teases and frustrates. In the opening cut Williamson duets with an African percussionist, revealing a marvelous tone remiscent of Pharoah Sanders. Unfortunately the drum machine programming kicks in on the following track and Williamson can't quite seem to figure out where he's going. The cover of Andy Bey's "Celestial Blues" is nice, though the original grooves better. The rapping would not be missed if it were to disappear, and why do acid-jazz drummers seem only to know that one funky-drummer beat? But there he is dressed in African garb and quoting John Coltrane in the liner notes so I remain a sucker for this stuff.

And check the discographies for these artists:

Gato Barbieri | Alice Coltrane | John Coltrane | John McLaughlin

Pharoah Sanders | Lonnie Liston Smith | Leon Thomas | McCoy Tyner

Back to Ian's Guide To The Ecstatic Spirit In Jazz.

Updated August, 1998. Send additions, corrections, and friendly comments toISHorst@aol.com.
Copyright 1998 Ian Scott Horst.