Album of the Week // 25–29 January
Various Artists — Spiritual Jazz 13: NOW! [Jazzman Records]
The first 12 volumes of the hugely popular Spiritual Jazz series have unearthed a wealth of historic recordings in the genre, collating a variety of works from the 50s to the 80s by artists from all around the world.
And so, with Volume 13, Jazzman Records have turned their attention to what’s happening NOW!
Over the course of 24 tracks spanning two double LPs, the collection presents an overview of the contemporary exponents of Spiritual Jazz; musicians who are intent on bringing something personal to the table, as much as they recognise the importance of those who have paved the way for them. Featuring music recorded within the past 20 years and from 15 different countries, you’ll hear modern classics from veterans Steve Reid and Idris Ackamoor, providing a vital link between the past masters and the enlightened new generation.
It’s pioneers such as John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders et al, with their innovations in reaching another plane of consciousness that was and remains uppermost in the minds of exponents of Spiritual Jazz. Fittingly, several of the artists featured on this compilation, such as Cat Toren and David Boykin, are practitioners of the art of music therapy and sound healing, and have absolute conviction in the role of song as solace. The pioneers may no longer be with us, but their saintly selves loom large, shining a light in the darkness, inspiring many a brave new disciple today, as this album will testify: the new wave of jazz is gathering pace and still sounds fresh, vibrant and as relevant as ever.
Check out the canonical selection of tracks:
Part 1:
Benjamin Herman — Lizard Waltz
Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids — An Angel Fell
Nat Birchall — The Black Ark
Chip Wickham — Shamal Wind
Jimi Tenor And Kabukabu — Suite Meets
Black Flower — Winter
Darryl Yokley — Echoes of Ancient Sahara
Damon Lock’s Black Monument Ensemble — Sounds Like Now
Oiro Pena — Nimeton
Cat Toren — Soul
Shabaka & the Ancestors — Nguni
Makaya McCraven — Gnawa
Part 2:
The Cosmic Range — Palms to Heaven
Vibration Black Finger — Empty Streets
Abeeku — Slow Sweet Burn
Wildflower — Flute Song
The Pyramids — Memory Ritual
Steve Reid — For Coltrane
Carla Marciano — Trane’s Groove
Angel Bat Dawid — What do I tell my children who are black (Dr. Margaret Burroughs)
Menagerie — Nova
Teemu Akerblom — Avo’s Tune
The Jamie Saft Quartet — Vessels
Jonas Kullhammar — Paris
Available as 2CD or 2 x 2LP sets with gatefold sleeve, extensive liners, download card and photographs inside. Catch tunes from the collection all this week on Morning Mari*, 9:00–9:15 GMT.
