Joseph Jarman: Earth Passage/Density

Here's another one from the vaults for fans of Joseph Jarman. Earth Passage/Density features Jarman and Moye, accompanied by two other multi-instrumentalists on four very distinct tracks, from the world music rooted "Zulu Village," to the relatively swinging straight-ahead jamming on "Happiness Is," the moody "Jawara," and to the concluding number "Sun Spots" (which is very free sounding and quite dominated by Moye - reminiscent of something from an AEC session). Challenging yet fun music that is easily worth a few listens.

Personnel:
Joseph Jarman - Flute, Clarinet (Bass), Flute (Alto), Flute (Bass), Piccolo, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor), Clarinet (Alto), Bamboo Flute
Famoudou Don Moye - Percussion, Chimes, Drums, Triangle, Bells, Cowbell
Rafael Garrett - Bass, Clarinet, Flute, Pan Flute, Conch Shell, Bamboo Flute
Craig Harris - Flute, Percussion, Trombone, Vocals, Voices, Didjeridu, Cowbell, Bamboo Flute

Tracks:
1. Zulu Village (13:11)
a. Hommage
b. Summoning The Elders
c. Children's Sun Celebration
2. Happiness Is (10:15)
3. Jawara (12:15)
4. Sun Spots (11:00)

Recorded on February 16 & 17, 1981 at Barigozzi Studios, Milan, Italy, and released on Black Saint in 1981. The album saw one reissue in 1993.

Download Earth Passage/Density

Joseph Jarman & Famoudou Don Moye: Egwu-Anwu

Egwu-Anwu (Sun Song) is an out-of-print live recording by Joseph Jarman and Famoudou Don Moye. Somehow I uploaded this album among others and never quite got around to posting it. The recording is of a live performance recorded in Woodstock, NY, which was released by India Navigation on January 8, 1978 (catalogue # IN 1033). The album was reissued on CD in the late 1990s before falling out of print. I occasionally encounter the mp3 files for Egwu-Anwu on the peer-to-peer networks.

If you're familiar with the AACM crew, you'll know what to expect: very free and spontaneous music characterized by lots of open space, generous use of "little instruments" (i.e., unorthodox objects in a jazz context such as conch shells and whistles), and just enough dissonance to keep you engaged but not so much as to wake up the kids - for me it's ideal night music. Folks who dig on Marion Brown and Leo Smith's Creative Improvisation Ensemble and Marion Brown and Elliott Schwartz's Soundways (see my post on those albums from two years ago) will find plenty to groove on here.

Personnel:
Famoudou Don Moye - Drums, Percussion [Other], Other [Bailophone], Conch, Whistle, Horns, Marimba
Joseph Jarman - Saxophone [Tenor, Alto, Sopranino], Flute, Clarinet [Bass], Conch, Vibraphone

Tracks:
1 Enu-Igwe: Egwu-Yesi Kipaleta [The Heavens] 1:55
2 Enu-Igwe: Egwu Jilala/Egwu Ping [The Heavens] 21:32
3 Nanke Ala: Ikpa-Azu - Ohnedaruth [And the Earth] 21:14
4 Nke Ala: Egwu-Erosora Ekou Katah [The Earth Is Ours] 6:51
5 Nke Ala: Egwu-Trombong Goudiaby [The Earth Is Ours] 6:34
6 Nke Ala: Egwu Ogotemmeli [The Earth Is Ours] 6:58
7 Na Enu Igwe: Lobo/Ekpokpona-Ye Fai [And the Heavens] 19:56

When I uploaded it, I did so in two parts, with the first three tracks on part one and the last four tracks on part two. I don't know who ripped this initially - but whoever it was did a fine job, and deserves mad props.

Download Egwu-Anwu part 1 and Egwu-Anwu part 2.

Joseph Jarman & Famoudou Don Moye: Black Paladins

Tracks

1. Mama Marimba
2. In Memory of My Seasons
3. Humility in the Light of the Creator
4. Black Paladins
5. Ginger Song
6. Ode to Wilbur Ware

Personnel

Henry Dumas - Poetry
Johnny Dyani - Bass, Piano, Tambourine, Vocals, Multi Instruments
Joseph Jarman - Flute, Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor), Voices, Multi Instruments, Conch, Bamboo Flute, Sax (Soprano)
Famoudou Don Moye - Percussion, Drums, Multi Instruments
Isio Saba - Photography
Gigi Barbieri- Cover Art
Giancarlo Barigozzi - Engineer
Giovanni Bonandrini - Producer
Lee Jeske - Liner Notes

The review from AMG:

During the '70s, Art Ensemble of Chicago members Joseph Jarman and Famoudou Don Moye often performed outside the band as a duo, sometimes bringing in other musicians. Here, they made the inspired choice of the late, great South African bassist Johnny Dyani (founding member of the Blue Notes and long-time collaborator with musicians such as Abdullah Ibrahim and John Tchicai) resulting in a buoyant, joyful release. Dyani's opening "Mama Marimba," propelled by both his bass and voice, is an exceptionally infectious number and contrasts wonderfully with Jarman's ensuing "In Memory of My Seasons," a misty dirge featuring the composer's haunting flute work. Moye is ablaze throughout, notably backing Jarman's lovely sopranino on "Ginger Song," and Dyani's deep, throbbing bass is a joy. On the closing piece, "Ode to Wilbur Ware," the bass groove is as thick as honey, providing the framework for elaborate, coloristic percussion and plaintive bamboo flute, bringing the album to a rich, satisfying conclusion. Black Paladins was the Jarman/Moye duo's most successful effort, and one of the most rewarding projects either was involved with outside of the Art Ensemble. A delicious recording.

That it is. Hope y'all enjoy this one as much as I do.

Recorded December 19 & 20, 1979 and released in 1980.

Download Black Paladins, or on sharebee.