GARY BARTZ - Libra + Another Earth (1998) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Altoist Gary Bartz's first two recordings as a leader are reissued in full (except for one selection, "Disjunction," left off due to lack of space) on this 1998 CD. 1967's Libra matches Bartz (then 26) with trumpeter Jimmy Owens, pianist Albert Dailey, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Billy Higgins for four diverse originals including "Eastern Blues," a lyrical "Cabin in the Sky," the old hymn "Deep River," and Charlie Parker's "Bloomdido." Another Earth features Bartz dueting with bassist Reggie Workman on "Lost in the Stars," performing three trio quartet numbers with Workman, pianist Stanley Cowell, and drummer Freddie Waits, and welcoming trumpeter Charles Tolliver and tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (who is a little more restrained than usual) to the 23-and-a-half-minute, three-part "Another Earth." The music is advanced but not avant-garde, essentially falling into the genre of modern mainstream for the period. Even at this early stage, Bartz had a fairly distinctive sound and a strong musical style. Scott Yanow
Libra (1967)
1 Eastern Blues  3:59
Gary Bartz
2 Cabin in the Sky  3:59
Vernon Duke
3 Air and Fire  5:53
Gary Bartz
4 Libra  6:22
Gary Bartz
5 Bloomdido 4:46
Charlie Parker
6 Deep River  4:51
Gary Bartz
7 Freedom One Day  5:08
Another Earth (1968)
8 Another Earth  23:46
Gary Bartz
9 Dark Nebula  5:04
Gary Bartz
10 UFO  4:49
Gary Bartz
11 Lost in the Stars  4:04
Kurt Weill
12 Perihelion and Aphelion  3:47
Gary Bartz
Credits 1-7
Bass – Richard Davis
Alto Saxophone – Gary Bartz
Drums – Billy Higgins
Piano – Albert Dailey
Trumpet – Jimmy Owens (tracks: 4, 7)
Libra (originally Milestone 9006): 1967
Credits 8-12
Alto Saxophone – Gary Bartz
Bass – Reggie Workman  
Drums – Freddie Waits
Piano – Stanley Cowell
Tenor Saxophone – Pharoah Sanders (tracks: 8)
Trumpet – Charles Tolliver (tracks: 8)
Another Earth (originally Milestone 9018): 1968