GARY BARTZ - Juju Street Songs + Follow, The Medicine Man (1997) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In the late 1970s, Gary Bartz's work became quite commercial. But earlier in the decade -- when the alto and soprano saxophonist led his Ntu Troop -- he was more ambitious. Recorded in 1972, Juju Street Songs is among the risk-taking efforts that came from the Ntu Troop. This ambitious LP finds Bartz drawing on a variety of influences -- everything from John Coltrane's modal post-bop to world music to the electric fusion that Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock were providing at the time. The term world music, of course, can mean a lot of different things; for the Ntu Troop, it means a strong Middle Eastern/Arabic influence on the moody "Teheran" and more of an Afro-Caribbean outlook on the exuberant "Africans Unite." Bassist Stafford James' "Bertha Baptist," meanwhile, is a jazz-funk gem that drummer Harvey Mason interpreted on his Earthmover LP of 1976. Although very jazz-oriented, Juju Street Songs is well aware of what was happening with R&B in the early 1970s. "I Wanna Be Where You Are" was a hit for Michael Jackson back when the Jacksons were still calling themselves the Jackson Five, but Bartz gives the soul-pop tune a serious makeover and demonstrates that it can work well as instrumental jazz. And Stevie Wonder's "Black Maybe," which features Andy Bey on vocals, lends itself equally well to a jazz interpretation. If you want to hear how much Juju Street Songs differs from the commercial stuff that Bartz offered in the late 1970s, just play "I Wanna Be Where You Are" next to his late 1970s version of L.T.D.'s "Love Ballad" -- while Bartz seriously interprets Michael Jackson's hit, his performance of "Love Ballad" is an uninteresting, overproduced, note-for-note cover. Excellent from start to finish, this LP captures Bartz at the height of his creativity. Alex Henderson  
Juju Street Songs (1972)
1    I Wanna Be Where You Are 10'04
Written-By – Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
2    Black Maybe 9'32
Written-By – Stevie Wonder
3    Bertha Baptist 6'32
Written-By – Stafford James
4    African's Unite 6'28
Written-By – Gary Bartz
5    Teheran 8'20
Written-By – Gary Bartz
Follow, The Medicine Man (1973)
6    Sifa Zote 7'50
Written-By – Gary Bartz
7    Whasaname 7'23
Written-By – Howard King
8    Betcha By Golly, Wow 4'47
Written-By – Linda Creed, Thom Bell
9    Dr. Follow's Dance 2'37
Electric Piano – Hubert Eaves
Guitar – Hector Centeno
Written-By – Gary Bartz
10    Standin' On The Corner 2'57
Electric Piano – Hubert Eaves
Guitar – Hector Centeno
Vocals – Gary Bartz
Written-By – Gary Bartz, Howard King, Jack Walker
11    Sing Me A Song Today 7'02
Written-By – Andy Bey
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Electric Piano, Percussion, Voice – Gary Bartz
Bass, Electric Bass, Percussion, Voice – Stafford James
Drums, Percussion, Voice – Howard King
Electric Piano – Andy Bey (pistas: 1 to 8, 11)
Producer, Arranged By – Gary Bartz (pistas: 6 to 11)
Remastered By – Joe Tarantino
Supervised By, Liner Notes [1996] – Orrin Keepnews
Vocals, Percussion – Andy Bey 

GARY BARTZ NTU TROOP - I've Known Rivers And Other Bodies (1973-2003) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of the most talented and hard working musicians of the 1970s, Gary Bartz appeared with almost every group vital to the fusion of modern contemporary soul music and jazz. From his experiences with the Miles Davis groups of the early '70s, Bartz rose with confidence to the forefront of the jazz movement, releasing one stellar recording after the next, showing no signs of slowing down into the mid-'70s.

What you hear on I've Known Rivers and Other Bodies is no exception. Here we find Bartz playing some of the best music of his career, blending innovative elements from all genres into one boiling pot and calling it his own. Recorded live before a Montreux festival audience, he and his quartet are in top form. The chemistry between Stafford James and Howard King (on bass and drums respectively) fluctuates between intense and serene, but otherwise provide a solid, reliable backbone to the strength and passion of Bartz's fiery saxophone melodies. A top recording and highly recommended piece to add to any jazz fan's collection. Rob Theakston
Tracklist :
1    Nommo-The Majick Song    4:16
Written-By – Gary Bartz
2    Sifa Zote    6:28
Written-By – Gary Bartz
3    Jujuman    10:39
Written-By – Gary Bartz
4    Bertha Baptist 7:07
Written-By – Stafford James
5    Don't Fight That Feeling    6:50
Written-By – Gary Bartz
6    Mama's Soul 7:32
Written-By – Hubert Eaves
7    I've Known Rivers    8:20
Written-By – Gary Bartz
8    The Warrior's Song    6:11
Written-By – Gary Bartz
9    Uhuru Sasa    2:08
Written-By – Gary Bartz
10    Dr. Follow's Dance    10:24
Written-By – Gary Bartz
11    Peace And Love    7:27
Written-By – Gary Bartz
Credits :    
Bass [Acoustic, Electric] – Stafford James
Drums – Howard King
Piano [Acoustic, Electric] – Hubert Eaves
Saxophone [Alto, Soprano], Vocals, Producer, Arranged By – Gary Bartz
Remastered By – Joe Tarantino
Supervised By – Orrin Keepnews

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.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
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

GARY BARTZ - The Shadow Do! (1975-2007) RM | Prestige Sixtieth Anniversary 14 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Not as known as the later Music Is My Sanctuary -- which was an even further departure, in its increased smoothness, from his Ntu Troop dates, and more popular by virtue of being released on Blue Note -- The Shadow Do! was the first time Gary Bartz sought production assistance from Fonce and Larry Mizell, the sibling duo who enlivened many sessions throughout the '70s with their soaring fusion of soul, funk, and (as Bartz would say) "the j-word." At this point, some j-word purists were hip to the Mizell program, what with dates from Bobbi Humphrey, Donald Byrd, and Johnny Hammond already in circulation. Checking the back of this Prestige release supplied all the info they needed to know: production by the Mizells, and four people credited with playing some form of synthesizer. Keyboardist Hubert Eaves, bassist Michael Henderson, guitarist Reggie Lucas, percussionist Mtume, and drummer Howard King help lend a sound that is a little funkier and heavier than most Mizell-guided sessions, but it's no less sweet. The second through fourth songs of side one exude joy and love, anchoring the album in a sense of contentedness so infectious that it might have even won over a few cold souls expecting straight jazz. Bartz's saxophones are at their melodic best, dancing, skipping, and trilling through the arrangements. He also sings lead, present on most of the songs, and though he probably didn't win any publication's best vocalist award, no one sounds like him, and the Mizells' own background harmonies are on-point as ever. Andy Kellman
Tracklist :
1    Winding Roads 3:18
Lyrics By, Arranged By [Vocals] – Gary Bartz
Written-By, Arranged By – Hubert Eaves
2    Mother Nature 6:27
Written-By, Arranged By, Composed By – Gary Bartz
3    Love Tones 5:11
Written-By, Arranged By – Gary Bartz
4    Gentle Smiles (Saxy) 4:21
Lyrics By, Arranged By [Vocals] – Gary Bartz
Written-By, Arranged By – Reggie Lucas
5    Make Me Feel Better 4:41
Written-By, Arranged By, Backing Vocals – Michael Henderson
6    Sea Gypsy 6:18
Arranged By – Larry Mizell
Whistle – James Carter
7    For My Baby 4:57
Written-By, Arranged By – Gary Bartz
8    Incident 2:56
Arranged By, Music By – Gary Bartz
Lyrics By – Countee Cullen
Credits :
Bass – Michael Henderson
Congas, Percussion – Mtume
Drums, Synthesizer – Howard King
Executive-Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Guitar – Reggie Lucas
Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizer – Hubert Eaves
Saxophone [Alto, Soprano], Synthesizer, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Co-producer, Other [Cover Concept, Title] – Gary Bartz
Synthesizer – Larry Mizell

GARY BARTZ NTU TROOP - Live In Bremen 1975 (1975-2021) 2xCD | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1-1    Medley: Nation Time / Ju Ju Man 30:46
Written-By – Gary Bartz
1-2    Medley: Rise / Celestial Blues / The Sounding Song / Incident / Uhura Sasa 9:44
Written-By – Andy Bey, Gary Bartz
1-3    I've Known Rivers 24:36
Written-By – Gary Bartz
2-1    Sweet Tooth 24:28
Written-By – Charles Mims
2-2    Medley: Peace And Love / Sifa Zote 17:59
Written-By – Gary Bartz
2-3    For The Love Of You 11:45
Written-By – Chris Jasper, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Vocals – Gary Bartz
Drums – Howard King
Electric Bass, Backing Vocals – Curtis Robertson
Piano, Synthesizer – Charles Mims

GARY BARTZ - Music Is My Sanctuary (1967-2014) Rare Groove Funk Best Collection 1000 | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Surrounding himself with a world-class ensemble of disco-jazz-fusion musicians and armed with the Mizell brothers at the production console (who were near the peak of their careers around this time), Gary Bartz took the route of Donald Byrd and brought new elements of funk, soul, and a foreshadowing of the soon-to-be-commercial disco craze all into a 40-minute workout on Music Is My Sanctuary. While purists shook their heads in disapproval and disdain at Bartz's new direction (one emulated by several jazz pioneers at the time), those who could take off their traditional jazz mufflers would find Bartz and the Mizells making some highly infectious, soulful music. Further accentuated by the addition of Syreeta Wright on vocals, the Mizells took Bartz into nearly uncharted territories for jazz musicians. The results of this experimentation more than paid off, with the dividends being Bartz's most polished, focused releases. Rob Theakston
Tracklist :
1     Music Is My Sanctuary 6'22
Gary Bartz
2     Carnaval de l'Esprit 5'57
Gary Bartz    
3     Love Ballad 4'11
Gary Bartz
4     Swing Thing 6'53
Gary Bartz
5     Oo Baby Baby 5'55
W. Prince Moore
6     Macaroni 6'42
Gary Bartz
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals – Gary Bartz
Arranged By – Gary Bartz (pistas: 1, 2, 6), Larry Mizell (pistas: 3, 4, 5)
Bass – Curtis Robinson, Jr., Welton Gite
Drums – Howard King, James Gadson, Nate Neblett
Guitar – David T. Walker, John Rowin, Juewett Bostick, Wa Wa Watson
Keyboards, Vocals – Larry Mizell
Percussion – Bill Summers, Mtume
Piano – George Cables
Trumpet – Eddie Henderson, Raymond Brown
Vocals – Sigidi, Syreeta Wright

GARY BARTZ - Love Song (1977-2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A reasonably enjoyable but not essential release, this album features altoist Gary Bartz (doubling on soprano) performing some originals and older R&B tunes with a four-piece rhythm section (which includes George Cables on electric piano and guitarist Carl McDaniels); three songs have soulful vocalists. The music overall is generally danceable and funky, sounding a bit dated despite some decent solos. Not Gary Bartz's worst (from a jazz standpoint), but also far from his best. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Love Song    6:35
Written-By – Gary Bartz
2    Prelude And Lonely Girl    5:50
Written-By – E. Shuman, L. Carr
3    Interlude And Don't Stop Now    6:55
Written-By – E. Holman, J. Soloman
4    You    7:35
Written-By – I. J. Hunter, J. Goga, J. Bowen
5    Interlude And Just Suppose    8:55
Written-By – George Cables
6    Afterthoughts    1:30
Written-By – Gary Bartz
Credits :
Bass – Curtis Robertson
Drums – Howard King
Guitar – Carl McDaniels
Piano – George Cables
Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Gary Bartz
Vocals – Rita Greene (pistas: 1, 5)