Customer Reviews

Universal Sounds of America

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The label London based 'Soul Jazz', has been compiling compilations that focus on the musically creative period of the 60/70's, for a little while now. Taking obscure or leftfield gems, meticulously compiling them into series of albums, usually concentrating on particular musical periods ((Latin Funk, 60's Soul, 70's reggae, Post-Punk, Avant-garde Jazz) and reintroducing them to people that missed them the first time around (myself included).

This particular compilation, concentrates on the fertile period in the 70's when musicians were pushing the musical boundaries and were developling musically, politically and spiritually. With artists such as: "Sun Ra", "Ornette Coleman", "Art Ensemble of Chicago" & "Pharoah Sanders" were amongst some of the most musically impressionistic & distinctively freewheeling artists amongst the 70's Jazz experimentation scene. And this compilation aims to catch this fertile period, that references the left-field Jazz, that was emerging from America.

"Sun Ra's" cosmic-Jazz is represented by the classic "Space is the Place", a 20 minute song cycle that is as vast & encompassing a song as any in Jazz music. Consisting as a song that evolves and constantly moves through a progressive, and Experimental big Band sound. Freewheeling and Theatrical in its vision of sound that is as informed by a mixture of science fiction, Intergalactic space themes, cosmic free-jazz, radical race politics and African music. This is a sprawling track that fuses Moog synthesisers, exuberant Saxophone, Futuristic themes, rhythmic percussion and the constant interlocking chanting of the 'Spaaaace is the Place' vocal, its a staggeringly complex and ambitious track, and one that would become one of the most recognisable "Sun Ra" tracks, and also one of the most distinguished tracks on a compilation packed with accomplished work.

"The Art Ensemble of Chicago" are more than justified by their inclusion on this compilation, having been considered a prominent figure in the Free-Jazz and Avant-Garde Jazz establishment, that have (as much as anyone), looked to push forward the boundaries of progressive Jazz, and their culture clash of Jazz "Theme de Yoyo", beautifully illustrates this point: long harmonic passages that are complexly Multi-textured, its the band laying down a largely improvisational arrangement, over which various instruments, sounds and thematic statements, all move together into a collective whole. Its in parts wonderfully complex, ambitiously messy, and engaging, and also one of those tracks where everything the track has to offer, isn't revealed until multiple spins of the track have taken place. but the most focused and starling section of this track is the soul vocal singing of "Fontella Bass" who marries, gorgeously uplifting soul singing, with the Avant-garde instrumentation, and proves to be suitable Music for intense free Jazzers, that appreciate tracks that musically sound better & more digestable with each listen.

"Pharoah Sanders", is a name that will be familiar to most, and his Energetic Saxophone work, that referenced his mentor "John Coltrane", deserved earned him a cult following. Here, his contribution: "Astral Traveling" is a far more subdued effort, largely sidestepping the passionate and volatile Hard-Bop/Free Jazz, for something far more intimate and delicate. A musically more considered and reflective piece, this will be a surprise to those that have only known Pharoah's work to be the intense and Fiery Saxophone, and instead, adopting a far more relaxed and musically beautiful sounding approach. Piano, Flute, Keyboard & soft, lightly brushed drums all work together to create arguably, a lyrical yet gentle, tour de force in the instrumental sense. Purists will argue that this track isn't a true representation of Pharoah intense & Searchingly dramatic work. But few could argue that this isn't a brilliantly conceived piece of work.

Trumpeter "Marcus Belgrave" is another stand-out, that simply must be mentioned. His track "Space Odyssey", begins unusually...with a disorientating swirling windtunnel sound/effect (sparadically used throughout the track), mixed with futuristic synth & Data stream/Computer processing effects, before this all slowly breaks down into a sublime, yet simple, Bass Guitar riff, over which slight drum percussion & a Twangy elasticated sound begin to form. Then a Jazz Orchestra (Complete with the introduction of Trumpet & Sax), of which burst into life, with screeching Sax & Trumpet battling against each other, but the track begins to break down, and become a relaxed, sombre & Mildly soothing arrangement. (Think a Jazz interpretation of a 70's Spy Thriller soundtrack). But more impressively, this is done without seeming either hackneyed or Tried, and its warm keyboards accompany the long stretches of trumpet solo's. The tempo never threatens to hurry to a swift conclusion, and is just the sort of beautifully composed and arranged track, that you would expect to soundtrack a particularly good 'Spy/Thriller Movie', and remains fantastically perfromed orchestrated soundtrack music.

It goes without saying that this is another beautifully compiled and sequenced compilation, from the people at 'Soul Jazz'. You really do get the feeling that these compilations are labours of love, and a great deal of care and attention, has been made to cherry-pick some of the choice tracks made available to them, but also not just plumbing for the always obvious choice. But as truly fantastic as this compilation is, it feels a little more geared towards the 'Music Enthusiast' as unless you are up to speed on your Free / Experimental Jazz, the majority of these artists will be unfamiliar to you. If you found "Miles Davis' - Bitches Brew" or "John Coltrane's - A Love Supreme" tough going/Listening, then you may want to reconsider buying this compilation, as it assumes that you are familiar (to some degree) with the Experimental Jazz scene, and doesn't make many concessions for the first time listener. But the rest of you, (irrespective of the large import price, from shipping it from the U.K.) need to purchase one of the finest Jazz compilations I've had the pleasure of reviewing.