Kwanza in Bloomington, MN

Kwanza
is a curious
Archie Shepp
recording. Released in 1969 on
Impulse
, it features cuts recorded between September 1968 and August 1969 with an assortment of lineups. Four of the album's five cuts were produced by
Bob Thiele
, and one,
"Slow Drag,"
by
Ed Michel
.
Shepp
composed three tunes here, and he is in the company of musicians such as
Grachan Moncur III
(who composed
"New Africa"
),
Jimmy Owens
,
Dave Burrell
Wally Richardson
Bob Bushnell
Bernard Purdie
and
Beaver Harris
Leon Thomas
Charles Davis
Woody Shaw
Cedar Walton
Wilbur Ware
Joe Chambers
Cecil Payne
, and others. As the title might suggest,
is a joyful record, full of celebration in
blues
jazz
"Back Back"
opens the set with a colossal funky
that feels like an out version of
the JB's
with
Burrell
kicking it on B-3. The all-too-brief
"Spoo Dee Doo,"
showcases
Thomas
' unique, and truly awesome vocal stylings along with
Tasha Thomas
Doris Troy
providing a swinging backing
R&B
chorus.
is the most vanguard track here, with a different rhythm section than on
"Back Back,"
and no guitar,
returns to his piano. It begins in a manner that suggests anger, but not rage. It becomes an edgeless, rounded meditation on joy and gratitude, a statement of purpose at realization and transcendence with
Owens
. and
Davis
playing alongside
Moncur
as a monumental choral line in timbres; textures, big harmonic reaches and ultimately resolution.
is a funky
tune, it struts a minor key line that feels like a mutated
"Wade in the Water,"
but its Latin rhythms and the killer bass work of
make the cut a standout. The set closes with
Cal Massey
's
"Bakai,"
a tune that walks a fringed line on the inside and swings like mad.
may not be one of
's better known recordings, but it is certainly one of his fine ones. ~ Thom Jurek