Customer Reviews

Nation Time (1970)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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I bought this on Lp in 1972, when I had first come across the man, from rave reviews in Cadence magazine.

This is a great introduction to Mr McPhee, and really very accessible. Throughout the past 30 years he has produced such profound music which has had such little media attention. If you enjoy sanders, coltrane, shepp and ayler, you will love this man's playing.

BUY this and then start chasing after thiose rare Hat Hut cds, especially "As serious as your life".

When I was younger, I first heard this album. Now that I am older, I have new found respect for what has been created. Even today it still has a wonderful freshness that I truely enjoy. I have had the pleaseure of seeing Joe perform serveral times. Each time is a wonderful treat. As has been mentioned, Joe is under rated and often overlooked. Search out the HAt Hut recordings, there are some very nice surprises in there.

One disc 41 minutes approximately. The sound is fine considering the era and the conditions when it was recorded,especially since it was remastered. All the instruments can be heard,with the bass a bit in the background at times. This was recorded live (tracks 1 & 3) at Vassar College Urban Center for Black Studies,in Chicago Hall in 1970. Track 2 is from a recording session the next day at the same venue. The notes include some insight into McPhee's playing by the fine reed man Ken Vandermark. Also included are the original notes by Chris Albertson and the man himself-Joe McPhee.

This music is a prime example of "black-power" music from an era when African Americans were spreading a message of equality for all and unity in the "black movement". During this time there were a number of jazz artists,especially in "free" jazz (or whatever people called it) who were expressing their thoughts and needs through their music. On that score,McPhee is no different than any number of other players of the time. What sets his music apart from other bands/musicians of the time is the inherent melody found in his compositions and his playing.


The first track ("Nation Time") sets up the listener for whats to come. Jumping immediately into a fierce arrangement between McPhee's sax (he also plays trumpet),along with piano-Mike Kull,acoustic or electric bass and trumpet-Tyrone Crabb,and percussion-Bruce Thompson and Ernest Bostic,this (over 18 minutes long) track is somewhat along the lines of Pharoah Sanders' tune,"Freedom",especially the call-and-response of "what time is it?" shouted at the audience,over again,in the same manner Sanders shouted "freedom" in the beginning of his (also live) song. Never does the music venture into totally uncharted territory,where many listeners,unfamiliar with this type of jazz seemed to get bogged down. That's because there is a consistent framework,or foundation,to better enjoy what everyone is playing.

The second track ("Shakey Jake")is a bit tighter in sound,maybe because it's not a live recording. On this track only,is added Otis Greene-alto sax,Herbie Lehman-organ,and Dave Jones-electric guitar,with the above mentioned players. This gives this long (over 13 minutes) track a much denser,more active sound that is a highlight of the album. The arrangement is similar to the first track-the players never seem to step on one another,but coalesce into a true group sound,which is very rewarding.


The final track ("Scorpio's Dance") is a bit different than the previous two compositions. The playing,while following a melody,is a bit more atonal,but never so unfettered that the beat can't be easily recognized. This track has it's own peculiar energy-with it's almost start-stop arrangement. The group will be playing densely together,only to have a number of the players lay out,in order to bring an instrument to the fore. This track is over eight minutes long,but it definitely could have gone on longer,such is the power of the music,and the composing skills of McPhee.

This is one of those albums/musicians that very few listeners (outside of his hometown) have heard of. To bad. This music is still vital after all these years,still visceral and immediate sounding. If you want to hear what relatively unknown jazz musicians were playing back in this era-this is a good example. This is exciting music-but not so esoteric that it can't be enjoyed by listeners with a set of open ears,and mind.

wow. it never ceases to amaze me the kinds of treasures that Atavistic's Unheard Music series digs up. i've never been let down by their releases and this stellar offering by Joe McPhee does not dissapoint! the fiery live title track begins with a shouted call and response from the band and audience and then erupts into a white hot explosion of wild sax, acid guitar licks, frantic rock and roll drumming, and solid bass work. the energy level is like a pot of hot water constantly boiling and threatening to spill over at any time, but thankfully, the band keep things at close rein. they manage to play free and wild, but the keen sense of melody is never lost amidst the carnage. great cd!

It grooves so much on the track 2 that ya can t stay unsensible !!
Some great live of Joe MCPHEE.