John Gordon - Erotica Suite (1978) [vinyl>flac]

Another US jazz holy grail finally reissued by Superfly. Probably the rarest Strata-East release, this Erotica Suite by John Gordon is just a splendid modal jazz with deep tracks like Neleh with enchanting flute lead or the spiritual jazz 4th movement consequences. Absolutely cult album, beautiful repress! ~ diggersdigest.com.

Top quality Superfly reissue of the most elusive Strata East LP that even the most accomplished collectors do not have, superb funky modal Jazz all the way. ~ superflyrecords.com.

Strata-East, SES-19780, 1978

Superfly Records, SRLP026, 2017

Recorded & Mixed in 1978 At Sound Ideas Studios, New York City

Musicians:

John Gordon - Trombone

Waymond Reed - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

James R. Spaulding - Alto Saxophone, Flute

John Miller - Piano, Synthesizer, Strings [Stringmen]

Lyle Atkinson - Bass

Frank Derrick III - Drums, Bell Tree

Tracks:

A1. 1st Movement: Desire {John Gordon} (6:50)

A2. 2nd Movement: Fulfillment {John Gordon} (6:10)

A3. 3rd Movement: Aftermath {John Gordon} (1:31)

A4. 4th Movement: Consequences {John Gordon} (7:59)

B1. Ora Lee Tingle {John Gordon} (4:25)

B2. Neleh {John Gordon} (6:29)

B3. Blue Na {John Gordon} (8:10)

Credits:

Producer - John Gordon

Recording Engineer - Neal Ceppos

Design - Frank Vails

Photography - Betsy Herzog

Billy Parker's Fourth World - Freedom Of Speech (1975)

One of the greatest albums ever on the legendary Strata East label - and that's saying a hell of a lot! Drummer Billy Parker is a player that we don't know much, but he'll always be well-remembered for this album's sublime blend of spiritual jazz styles! The lineup is wonderful - a hip quintet with Ron Bridgewater on tenor and Cecil Bridgewater on trumpet - plus sister Dee Dee on additional vocals at a few points too! Donald Smith (Lonnie Liston's brother) also plays piano, and sings a bit - with his warmly soulful style that makes the album's leadoff track a killer classic - and the rest of the group is rounded out by Cecil McBee on bass and Parker on drums. Tracks have those perfect blends of searching, soaring elements that virtually define the Strata East vision in the 70s - and titles include the sublime "Dance of The Little Children", plus "Gemini's Lullaby", "Home", "Get With It", and "Freedom Of Speech".

Strata-East Records, SES-19754, 1975

Recorded 24^th May, 1974

Musicians:

Billy Parker - Drums

Cecil Bridgewater - Trumpet

Ronald Bridgewater - Tenor Saxophone

Donald Smith - Piano, Vocals

Cecil McBee - Bass

Dee Dee Bridgewater - Vocals

Tracks:

A1. Dance Of The Little Children {Donald Smith, Ronald Bridgewater} (5:06)

A2. Gemini's Lullabye {Cecil Bridgewater} (6:56)

A3. Home {Arr. Cecil McBee, Cecil McBee} (8:19)

B1. Get With It {Arr. Cecil Bridgewater, Ronald Bridgewater} (4:05)

B2. Freedom Of Speech {Billy Parker} (15:29)

Credits:

Producer - Billy Parker

Recording Engineer - Ron Carran

Mixing Engineer - Randy Adler

Design [Inside Cover Design] - Vernon Grant

Photography - Darnell C. Mitchell

Liner Notes - Billy Earl Parker Jr.

Dick Griffin - The Eighth Wonder (1974)

Trombonist Dick Griffin's big, hearty sound has been a well-defined asset in any of the musical buffets he has taken part in during his long career. Whether part of a James Brown horn section or a small modern jazz band, Griffin's trombone is a steaming dish - if it was literally part of a smorgasbord spread there would always be several hungry customers lined up behind it, ladles ready. Jazz buffs wanted to dig right in when the trombonist served up his own album for the Strata-East co-operative label in the '70s, but the result was more like a stew that is not fully cooked at mealtime. By the time this one gets to full boil, many of the guests have gone home and hit the hay, to continue the analogy. When Sam Rivers takes off on a tenor solo during "Flying Back Home," the listener does the usual standing at attention, ears cocked, that is a required part of experiencing a Rivers solo. Yet by this time the record has already been flipped, it is only a bit more than ten minutes until the whole thing is over, and worst of all, the Rivers fan has already contemplated in sullen sadness why the first side went by without much more than a few peeps from the man. Bassist Cecil McBee does get in one of his gorgeous bass solos on the first side. He is part of an exceptional rhythm section partly made up of Griffin associates from Rahsaan Roland Kirk's Vibration Society. Kirk would never had let the first side of one of his albums drag so badly, despite his love of ballads. He would have known when enough was enough in terms of a beautiful sound and would have made an effort to shake things up. In many ways "The Eighth Wonder" shows that Griffin's greatest abilities may not be as a bandleader; the recorded sound and technical execution is as flawless as the multi-phonic chops he displays when the needle first hits, but there isn't much sign of the expressive drive that makes the music of many of Griffin's employers over the years so compelling. ~ Extract by Eugene Chadbourne, AMG.

Strata-East Records, SES-19747, 1974

Musicians:

Dick Griffin - Trombone

Sam Rivers - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute

Warren Smith - Vibraphone, Percussion

Ron Burton - Piano

Cecil McBee - Bass

Freddie Waits - Drums

Leopolodo F. Fleming - Percussion, Congas, Bells

Tracks:

A1. Eighth Wonder (5:59)

A2. It Could Be     (6:50)

A3. Girl, I Really Love You So (6:43)

B1. Jakubu's Dance (4:07)

B2. Flying Back Home (8:21)

B3. Come Be With Me (9:31)

All Compositions and Arrangements by Dick Griffin

Credits:

Producer, Arranger, Composer, Liner Notes - Dick Griffin

Recording Engineer - Rudy Cotman

Photography [Front Cover] - Clarence Eastman