LONNIE LISTON SMITH & THE COSMIC ECHOES — Astral Traveling (1973-2014) RM | Flying Dutchman Jazz Classics Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Lonnie Liston Smith was 32 when, in 1973, he finally got around to recording his first album as a leader, Astral Traveling. By that time, the pianist/keyboardist had a great deal of sideman experience under his belt, and this superb debut made it clear that former employers like Pharoah Sanders, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Gato Barbieri, and Betty Carter had taught him well. One hears a lot of Sanders, John Coltrane, and McCoy Tyner influence on Astral Traveling; Smith obviously shares their passion for all things spiritual. Nonetheless, this LP leaves no doubt that the improviser is very much his own man and has a wealth of brilliant ideas of his own; thankfully, he has a cohesive band to help him carry them out. On Astral Traveling, Smith's 1973 edition of the Cosmic Echoes includes George Barron on soprano and tenor sax, Joe Beck on guitar, Cecil McBee on bass, David Lee Jr. on drums, James Mtume and Sonny Morgan on percussion, Badal Roy on Indian tabla drums, and Geeta Vashi on the Indian tamboura. An impressive lineup, and one that shows a great understanding of Smith's spiritual nature. Ninety-five percent of the time, Astral Traveling is serene and tranquil; but on "I Mani (Faith)," the unexpected interesting happens when Barron goes outside during his sax solo and gets into the type of dissonant, forceful screaming one would expect from Albert Ayler or late-period Coltrane. "I Mani (Faith)" has a hauntingly peaceful melody, but Barron's out-of-left-field solo makes it the most avant-garde track that Smith ever recorded as a leader. Produced by the late Bob Thiele -- an eclectic heavyweight who worked with everyone from Coltrane, Ayler, and Charles Mingus to Coleman Hawkins, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong -- Astral Traveling is among Smith's most essential and rewarding albums. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1. Astral Traveling (Smith) - 5:30
2. Let Us Go into the House of the Lord (Smith) - 6:22
3. Rejuvenation (Smith) - 5:36
4. I Mani (Faith) (Smith) - 6:11
5. In Search of Truth (Smith) - 7:12
6. Aspirations (Smith) - 4:23
7. Astral Traveling (alternate take) (Smith) - 5:38
8. Rejuvenation (alternate take) (Smith) - 6:33
9. I Mani (Faith) (alternate take) (Smith) - 5:57
10. In Search of Truth (alternate take) (Smith) - 6:23
Credits :
Lonnie Liston Smith - Piano, Electric Piano
George Barron - Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Joe Beck - Guitar
Cecil McBee - Bass
David Lee, Jr. - Drums
Badal Roy - Tabla
Sonny Morgan, James Mtume - Congas, Percussion
Geeta Vashi - Tamboura

OLIVER NELSON — Swiss Suite (1972-2014) RM | Flying Dutchman Jazz Classics Series | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Recorded at the 1971 Montreux Jazz Festival, this big-band outing features a mostly all-star band and altoist Oliver Nelson (who wrote all of the arrangements and compositions) and trumpeter Danny Moore on remakes of "Stolen Moments," "Black, Brown & Beautiful" and "Blues and the Abstract Truth." However it is the nearly 27-minute "Swiss Suite" that dominates this album and although tenorman Gato Barbieri has a couple of raging solos, it is a five-minute segment when guest altoist Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson plays the blues that is most memorable. Vinson's classic spot alone is worth the price of this hard-to-find LP.  Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

GARY BARTZ NTU TROOP - Harlem Bush Music- Taifa + Harlem Bush Music- Uhuru (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Harlem Bush Music - Taifa ( 1971 )    
1    Rise 5:25
Written-By – Gary Bartz
2    People Dance 10:33
Written-By – Gary Bartz
3    Du (Rain) 4:17
Written-By – Gary Bartz
4    Drinking Song 5:14
Written-By – Gary Bartz, Maxine Bartz
5    Taifa 4:14
Written-By – Gary Bartz, Maxine Bartz
6    Parted 1:59
Narrator, Overdubbed By [All Vocals], Overdubbed By [Instrumental Parts] – Gary Bartz
Written-By – Paul Laurence Dunbar
7    The Warrior's Song 6:06
Narrator – Gary Bartz
Written-By – Gary Bartz
Harlem Bush Music - Uhuru ( 1971 )    
8    Blue (A Folk Tale) 16:24
Piano, Vocals [First] – Gary Bartz
Written-By – Gary Bartz
9    Uhuru Sasa 6:46
Written-By – Gary Bartz
10    Vietcong 5:13
Written-By – Hakim Jami
11    Celestial Blues 7:32
Written-By – Andy Bey
12    The Planets 5:07
Written-By – Gary Bartz
Credits :
Bass, Electric Bass – Juni Booth (tracks: 1 to 7, 10), Ron Carter (tracks: 8, 9, 11, 12)
Drums – Harold White
Overdubbed By [Vocals], Overdubbed By [Percussion] – Andy Bey
Percussion – Nat Bettis
Producer, Liner Notes – Orrin Keepnews
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Overdubbed By [Vocals], Overdubbed By [Percussion] – Gary Bartz
Vocals – Andy Bey (tracks: 1 to 5, 8 to 12)
Voice – Gary Bartz (tracks: 6 to 8)

NTU WITH GARY BARTZ - Singerella : A Ghetto Fairy Tale (1974-2010) RM | BGP Funk & Jazz Classics | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Released in 1974, Singerella: A Ghetto Fairy Tale by Gary Bartz and his evolving Ntu Troop was a self-produced affair, and the first without vocalist Andy Bey. Bartz was exploring a CTI smooth groove aesthetic by this time, and was deeply invested in the funky side of jazz. He took a hard turn toward jazz-funk's smoother soul side here, an approach that was cemented in the final mix by Larry Mizell, who, along with his brother Fonce, would become his producers for the remainder of the 1970s. Bartz also changed his composition style for Singerella; these are, in large part, shorter, tighter, and feature quirky if readily accessible melodies. Some of these tracks yield fine improvisational moves despite their heavy reliance on funk vamps. This is true in particular of the opener, "St. Felix Street," and the bookend closer, "Nation Time." Other tracks, such as the humorous "The Dozens Song," the driving "I Don't Care" (with a generous touch of the lyric influence and hipster vocal phrasing of Ben Sidran), and "Mellow Yellow" (not the Donovan tune), offer a street-conscious aspect of the band's performance, while keeping the production on the slick side, featuring the infectious Fender Rhodes and keyboards laid down by Hubert Eaves, the razor-sharp guitar work of Hector Centeno, the cracking breaks of drummer Howard King, the tough in-the-pocket hand percussion of Kenneth Nash, and the punched-up accents of bassists James Benjamin and Maynard Parker. Bartz chose to handle the vocals on this set, and his off-key vocals did hurt him on both the title cut and "Lady Love" (these would have been stone killers sung by Bey or any more skilled singer), because their subtleties demand a more accurate pitch. That said, the music more than compensates, and Bartz's own alto, soprano, and clarinet chops are in top shape. This is a curious record, an experiment (and partnership with Mizell) that would take shape further on 1975's The Shadow Do! and culminate in the excellent Music Is My Sanctuary in 1977.
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Tracklist :
1    St. Felix Street 4:57
Arranged By – Hubert Eaves
Arranged By [Introduction] – Gary Bartz
Composed By – Hubert Eaves
2    Dozens (The Sounding Song) 4:36
Composed By – Gary Bartz
3    I Don't Care 6:43
Arranged By – Hubert Eaves
Composed By – Howard King, Hubert Eaves
4    Blind Man 2:59
Composed By – Gary Bartz
5    Singerella (A Ghetto Fairy Tale) 6:24
Composed By – Gary Bartz
6    Lady Love 6:15
Composed By – Gary Bartz
7    Mellow Yellow 4:15
Composed By – Gary Bartz
8    Nation Time 3:26
Composed By – Gary Bartz
Credits :
Arranged By – Gary Bartz (pistas: 2, 4 to 8)
Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Jew's Harp [Mouth Harp], Synthesizer, Percussion, Vocals, Producer, Photography By [Front Cover] – Gary Bartz
Drums – Howard King
Electric Bass – James Benjamin
Electric Piano, Piano, Clavinet – Hubert Eaves
Guitar – Maynard Parker (pistas: 1, 2, 4 to 7)
Guitar [Guest] – Hector Centeno (pistas: 3, 8)
Percussion [Guest] – Kenneth Nash (pistas: 4, 8)
Recording Supervisor – Orrin Keepnews