Friday, September 29, 2006

The Positive Force with Ade Olatunji



I love uncovering obscure gems by pure chance. While looking for some old out-of-print Strata East recordings on mp3 a while back, I found this cool album called Oracy (see image above) recorded in 1977 by a Detroit-area jazz combo. While digging on the tunes, I did a bit of researching and found out that it's also been reissued on cd (which of course means that if you download this and like it, please purchase a copy!). Dusty Groove's synopsis:
One of the most righteous soul jazz albums of the 70s -- a unique session of poetry, percussion, and jazz -- put together by the ultra-hip Positive Force! Not to be confused with the soul group of the same name, this combo was a spiritual jazz ensemble -- featuring poet Ade Olatunji reciting some of his works, plus additional percussion, piano, bass, and keyboards. The tracks unfold with a simple, easy-going approach that's really beautiful -- redemptive, hopeful, and free-thinking -- with a great vision for the future, and a keen ear to challenge the status quo. Titles include "The Afrikan In Winter", "Beautiful Flower", "Praise Song", "Guerilla Warfare", and "Poem For My Lady".
If you like purely instrumental jazz, this album's not for you. But if you can hang with some poetry - sometimes backed with standard jazz instrumentation, sometimes percussion - it's worth checking out. Ade Olatunji is a cat whose poetry would fit in well with Gil-Scott Heron and The Last Poets from the 1970s, covering many of the same topics, as well as getting into the interpersonal politics of romantic partnerships. "Poem for my Lady" is a piece I wish I had written for my lady. "The Weight Don't Make Things No Lighter" tackles the problem of men abandoning the women they impregnate. "Brothers" (Olatunji this time accompanied with bass) takes on the problems of urban violence and drug abuse with a uniquely personal twist. "Afrika Needs You" is a call to solidarity. "Praise Song" begins with a freeform skronkfest before settling into a mid-tempo groove that blends vocals, poetry, and instrumentals as the song progresses. The lone instrumental piece "Guerilla Warfare" starts off with the sounds of a war zone (gunfire, the sounds of aircraft overhead) and then segues into a tight funky soul-jazz jam that tears the roof off the sucka.

As far as I know, this was the only session these cats ever recorded. I don't know if any of Ade Olatunji's poetry ever appeared in print or was ever recorded except for that gig. If your recorded legacy is going to be one album, these cats did good. It captures the spirit of a particular time and place, and yet its spirit transcends its context, and musically and lyrically remains every bit as relevant today.

The website for the cd on Quadraphonic Records gives a brief description of the personnel.

The mp3 files appeared to have been ripped from an lp, so of course you'll hear the usual snap-crackle-pop that goes with the territory. Whoever did the work also kindly scanned the front and back covers of the lp, and I made sure to include those in the upload (same pix you see in this post, scrawled notes and all).

As I said, there is a recently reissued cd available, which of course I hope more folks will purchase - it's music that truly deserves to be heard.

Updated 10/20/2006

Download Oracy.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Dewey Redman - Coincide


Coincide was the second - and final - recording by Dewey Redman for the legendary Impulse! label. A decent review of the album by Scott Yanow of allmusic is in order:
Dewey Redman is featured in a few different settings on this intriguing and generally successful album. The best cuts are the originals that match Redman's tenor with bassist Sirone and drummer Eddie Moore. In addition, he is heard on zither on two cuts (one of which is unaccompanied), and his trio adds trumpeter Ted Daniel and violinist Leroy Jenkins for two complex originals; Redman switches to clarinet on "Somnifacient." Although it is interesting to hear Redman on clarinet and zither, his tenor playing is clearly his strong point and the main reason to search for this LP. His ten-minute workout on "Qow" is outstanding.
The album was released in 1975 on Impulse! - catalogue # ASD-9300. Some information on the individual tracks:

1. Seeds and Deeds
dewey redman - tenor saxophone
ted daniel - trumpet
leroy jenkins - violin
eddie moore - drums
sirone - bass
september 9, 1974

2. Somnifacient
dewey redman - clarinet
ted daniel - trumpet
leroy jenkins - violin
sirone - bass
eddie moore - tympani and cymbals
september 9, 1974

3. Meditation Submission Purification
dewey redman - zither
sirone - bass
eddie moore - bowed and struck idiophone
september 10, 1974

4. Joie de Vivre
dewey redman - tenor saxophone
sirone - bass
eddie moore - drums
september 10, 1974

5. Funcitydues
dewey redman - tenor saxophone
sirone - bass
eddie moore - drums
september 10, 1974

6. Phadan-Sers
dewey redman - zither
september 10, 1974

7. QOW
dewey redman - tenor saxophone
sirone - bass
eddie moore - drums
september 10, 1974

Tracks 1, 4, 5, and 7 appeared as bonus tracks on the cd reissue to Redman's classic recording Ear of the Behearer. Those particular tracks feature Redman on tenor sax and are well-worth hearing. QOW in particular has Redman cutting loose over a rhythm section that starts with a highlife vibe before moving into some uptempo post-bop and free grooving before returning to the opening theme - very cheerful, upbeat music that offers a beautiful close to an excellent album. I personally enjoy the track in which Redman solos on zither unaccompanied - it is a striking and intense listen.

I was disappointed when the conglomerate that holds the rights to the Impulse! back catalogue chose not to reissue Coincide. Thankfully, due to the good graces of some free-jazz fan out there somewhere, we at least have these mp3s ripped from vinyl, and can enjoy this wonderful album in its entirety.

Updated 10/20/2006 and 11/27/2008

Download Coincide.

Introductory Post

I've been a music fan for as long as I can remember, and one of the things I've enjoyed most is collecting LPs, CDs, MP3s, etc.

My tastes tend to run a bit outside the mainstream, hence much of what I have in my collection or am currently seeking is either out of print or only sporadically in print.

From time to time I'll share some of what I have from my collection. Much of the focus will be those hard-to-find jazz recordings that I'd love to turn others onto, as well as some other recordings from punk/hardcore, industrial, and underground rap genres.

The primary purpose of this blog is to share and promote some really cool music. If you find that something has suddenly been reissued and you really dig it, do the artists or their estates a favor and buy it.

A note about the files: much of what I'll be sharing are recordings that I've found on mp3 format via peer-to-peer networks. Some files will have been ripped from lp, whereas others will have been ripped from cd. I'll try to note the origins of the recordings as well as I can. I myself have not ripped anything from vinyl - those folks who've done the work of doing so deserve a huge debt of gratitude from the rest of us. I will occasionally rip something from cd to share.