Muhal Richard Abrams - Young At Heart / Wise In Time (1969)

Muhal Richard Abrams, as the founder of the AACM in Chicago, has been one of the unsung leaders of the avant-garde ever since the mid-'60s. A versatile pianist, Abrams is heard in two different settings on this, his second session as a leader. "Young at Heart" finds him stretching out on a solo piano performance that hints at earlier styles while exploring the potential sounds and silence of free jazz. Wise in Time has Abrams functioning as part of an explorative quintet with trumpeter Leo Smith and altoist Henry Threadgill, both of whom were unknown youngsters at the time. Fascinating music, it is recommended strictly for the open-eared listener who does not demand that all jazz swing conventionally. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Delmark Records, DE-423, 1996
Recorded 20th August (#1) and 2nd July (#2) 1969 at Sound Studios, Los Angeles, CA 

Musicians:
Muhal Richard Abrams - Piano, Solo (#1)
Leo Smith - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, etc. (#2)
Henry Threadgill - Alto Saxophone (#2)
Lester Lashley - Bass (#2)
Thurman Barker - Percussion (#2) 

Tracks:
1. Young At Heart {Abrams} (29:20)
2. Wise In Time {Abrams} (21:52)

Total Time: 51:17

Credits:
Producer & Supervisor - Robert G. Koester
Reissue Producer - Chuck Nessa
Recording Engineer - Dave Antler
Remixing (#2) - Paul Serrano
Cover Photograph - Roy Lewis
Cover Design - Zbigniew Jastrzebski
Liner Notes - John Litweiler

Marion Brown - Geechee Recollections (1973)

Geechee Recollections was the first in a trilogy of recordings by saxophonist Marion Brown that both honored the work of poet Jean Toomer and revisited his upbringing in Georgia. Together, they form arguably the most beautiful and satisfying output of Brown's lengthy career. The music, while remaining experimental, is grounded in Southern folk themes and blues, epitomized on tracks like the funky "Buttermilk Bottom" here. A Toomer poem, Karintha is given a striking reading by Bill Hasson and, throughout the recording, Brown receives excellent support by a strong ensemble including trumpeter Leo Smith and the great drummer Steve McCall. Brown, with his marvelously limpid tone on alto, is a joy to hear and seems more at home and relaxed here than on some of his more strident early records. Recommended. ~ Brian Olewnick, AMG.

Impulse! Records, AS-9252, 1973

ABC/Impulse! Records, MVCZ-120, 1997

Recorded 4^th & 5^th June, 1973 At Intermedia Sound, Boston, Massachusetts

Musicians:

Marion Brown - Alto & Soprano Saxophones, Clarinet, Percussion

Leo Smith - Brasses, Strings, Percussion

Bill Hassan - Narration (#2), Percussion

James Jefferson - Bass, Cello (#2), Percussion

Steve McCall - Drums, Miscellaneous Percussion

A. Kobena Adzenyah - Drums [Southeastern Ghana]: Soge, Kidi, Kaganu, Axatse,

Gankogui, Toke; Drums [Akan people, Ghana]: Apentemba,

Apenten, Dawure, Nnawunta, Donne, Gyilla, Balaphone [Lobi people, Northern Ghana]

William Malone - Thumb Piano, Autoharp, Axatse

Jumma Santos - Conga Drums, Miscellaneous Instruments

Tracks:

1. Once Upon A Time {Marion Brown} (6:27)

2. Karintha {Marion Brown, Jean Toomer} (9:25)

3. Buttermilk Bottom {Marion Brown} (6:42)

4. Introduction {Marion Brown} (1:18)

5. Tokalokaloka, Part One {Marion Brown} (6:59)

6. Tokalokaloka, Part Two {Marion Brown} (8:39)

7. Tokalokaloka, Part Three {Marion Brown} (1:45)

8. Ending {Leo Smith} (1:20)

Credits:

Producer - Ed Michel

Recording Engineer - Berred Ouelette

Assistant Engineer - Dominic Lumetta, Gilmar Fortis, Kathryn King, Nat Seligman

Mixing Engineer - Rick Heenan (The Village Recorder)

Photography - Donald M. Shaw

Liner Notes - J.B. Figi

Liner Notes [Poem] - Eric D. Jackson

Total Time: 40:35