Recorded in 1972 with a core band of Leroy Jenkins, Cornell Dupree (!),
Jimmy Garrison, and Charles McGhee, Shepp supplemented these proceedings
in much the same way he did with the cast of Attica Blues, with gospel
singers, big bands, quintets, sextets, and chamber orchestras, with
guests that included Harold Mabern on piano, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on
drums, and Ron Carter on electric bass! Recorded during a period in
which Shepp was reaching out of the jazz idiom to include all of what he
perceived to be "trans-African" music at the time, there is gutbucket
R&B here, as well as the sweetly soul gospel of "Rest Enough." The
charts' arrangements are a combination of Ellington's more pastoral
moods -- usually expressed in his suites -- and the more darkly complex
modal stylings of George Russell. Unlike some of Shepp's dates from this
period, the vocals do not detract from the mix employed here. This is
an urban record that showcases Shepp's ability, at this time in his
career, to literally take on any project, combine as many sources as he
was permitted by his financial resources, and come up with something
compelling, provocative, and soulful. All extremes are subsumed by the
whole: The avant-garde free jazz of the period is covered in the
large-ensemble playing, which is covered by the gospel and R&B
stylings that are accented by the free jazz players. Shepp worked with
many larger ensembles as a leader, but never did he achieve such a
perfect balance as he did on The Cry of My People. Given that the
remastered version -- with excellent liner notes, superb sound, and a
gorgeous package -- is being issued during an election year in the
United States, its poignancy and urgency couldn't be more timely.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1 Rest Enough (Song to Mother) 4:41
Backing Vocals – Andre Franklin, Patterson Singers
Lead Vocals – Peggy Blue
Written-By – Archie Shepp
2 A Prayer 6:29
Arranged By, Conductor – Romulus Franceschini
Written-By, Arranged By – Cal Massey
3 All God's Children Got a Home in the Universe 2:58
Written-By – Archie Shepp
4 The Lady 5:31 Arranged By – Romulus Franceschini
Arranged By, Conductor – Cal Massey
Vocals – Joe Lee Wilson
Written-By – Bob Ford
5 The Cry of My People 5:45
Arranged By – Romulus Franceschini
Written-By, Arranged By, Conductor – Cal Massey
6 African Drum Suite, Pt. 1-2 0:35
Vocals – Joe Lee Wilson
Written-By – William G. Harris
7 African Drum Suite, Pt. 2 7:34 Arranged By, Conductor – Dave Burrell
Berimbau, Percussion [Brazilian] – Guilherme Franco
Bongos, Congas – Nene DeFense
Tambourine, Congas – Terry Quaye
Written-By – William G. Harris
8 Come Sunday 9:30
Arranged By, Conductor – Charles Greenlee
Backing Vocals – Patterson Singers
Lead Vocals – Joe Lee Wilson
Written-By – Duke Ellington
Credits
Bass – Jimmy Garrison (pistas: 2, 4 to 8)
Bass [Fender] – Ron Carter (pistas: 1, 3, 5)
Cello – Esther Mellon (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8), Pat Dixon (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8)
Drums – Beaver Harris (pistas: 3 to 5), Bernard Purdie (pistas: 1, 2)
Guitar – Cornell Dupree (pistas: 1, 3)
Percussion – Nene DeFense (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 8)
Piano – Dave Burrell (pistas: 6. 7), Harold Mabern (pistas: 1 to 5, 8)
Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp (pistas: 2, 4, 7)
Tambourine – Nene DeFense (pistas: 1, 3)
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp (pistas: 3, 4, 5, 8)
Trombone – Charles Greenlee (pistas: 2 to 7), Charles Stephens (pistas: 2 to 5, 8)
Trumpet – Charles McGhee (pistas: 2 to 5, 7, 8)
Violin – Gayle Dixon (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8), Jerry Little (pistas: 4, 7, 8), John Blake (pistas: 2, 5), Leroy Jenkins (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8), Lois Siessinger (pistas: 2, 5), Noel DaCosta (pistas: 4, 7, 8) 
