Jazz Archives

This out-of-print LP (one of several from the Prestige and Milestone catalog that are long overdue to be reissued on CD) was one of the finest of altoist Gary Bartz's early years. The 24-minute multi-movement "Another Earth" is a stormy affair matching Bartz with trumpeter Charles Tolliver, the fiery tenor Pharoah Sanders, pianist Stanley Cowell, bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Freddy Waits. The flip side of the record has three quartet outings by Bartz, Cowell, Workman and Waits, including the mysterious ballad "Dark Nebula" and an uptempo blues, "UFO," plus a Bartz-Workman duet on "Lost in the Stars." Well worth searching for, this adventurous music is quite colorful and always holds one's interest.

:::Review by Scott Yanow:::

Gary Bartz - Another Earth (1968)

1. Another Earth 23:46
2. Dark Nebula 5:04
3. Ufo 4:49
4. Lost In The Stars 4:04
5. Perihelion And Aphelion 3:47

Credits
Charles Tolliver (trumpet),
Gary Bartz (alto sax),
Pharoah Sanders (tenor sax),
Stanley Cowell (piano),
Reggie Workman (bass),
Freddie Waits (drums)

On this 1967 Impulse release, tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp unleashed his 18-minute tour de force "The Magic of Ju-Ju," combining free jazz tenor with steady frenetic African drumming. Shepp's emotional and fiery tenor takes off immediately, gradually morphing with the five percussionists -- Beaver Harris, Norman Connor, Ed Blackwell, Frank Charles, and Dennis Charles -- who perform on instruments including rhythm logs and talking drums. Shepp never loses the initial energy, moving forward like a man possessed as the drumming simultaneously builds into a fury. Upon the final three minutes, the trumpets of Martin Banks and Michael Zwerin make an abrupt brief appearance, apparently to ground the piece to a halt. This is one of Shepp's most chaotic yet rhythmically hypnotic pieces. The three remaining tracks, somewhat overshadowed by the title piece, are quick flourishes of free bop on "Shazam," "Sorry Bout That," and the slower, waltz-paced "You're What This Day Is All About."

:::Review by Al Campbell:::

Archie Shepp - The Magic Of Ju-Ju (1967)

1. The Magic Of Ju-Ju 18:34
2. You're What This Day Is All About 1:47
3. Shazam 4:43
4. Sorry 'Bout That 10:08

Credits
Bass - Reggie Workman
Drums - Beaver Harris , Norman Connor
Percussion - Dennis Charles
Percussion [Rhythm Logs] - Eddie Blackwell
Percussion [Talking Drums] - Frank Charles
Saxophone [Tenor], Written-by - Archie Shepp
Trumpet, Flugelhorn - Martin Banks
Trumpet, Trombone - Michael Zwerin