The Bebop Shop : In The Tradition: Mainstream & The Bop Revivalists : Gary Bartz & Heads Of State
In 1972 Gary Bartz founded his own band, NTU Troop. He borrowed the name from the Bantu language. Bartz: "Ntu means unity in all things, in time and space, life and death, in the visible and the invisible. Musically, it stands for an alliance of bop, free, rock and African music." On 8th November 1975, Gary Bartz performed with the NTU Troop in Bremen's Post-Aula. Radio Bremen was there and now the recording is being released physically and digitally on Moosicus. Gary Bartz was joined on stage by drummer Howard King, bassist Curtis Robertson and pianist Charles Mims, an extraordinary, musically brilliant quartet that was well-rehearsed and coordinated. Unfortunately, it was short-lived, because quite soon after this performance, the NTU Troop went their separate ways again.
King, Robertson and Mims went on to work with Roberta Flack, Lou Rawls and Patrice Rushen, among others, while Bartz continued his solo career with such major labels as Capitol Records and Arista. For Gary Bartz, jazz is "improvised composing", which can be heard on this live album recorded 46 years ago. (Proper Music) Price: £21.99
The album features selections by John Coltrane (Impressions ), Jackie McLean ( Capuchin Swing ), Benny Carter ( Summer Serenade ), Billy Strayhorn ( Lotus Blossom ) and, of course, the moving title track by Tyner ( Search for Peace ). Gary Bartz contributes two compositions ( Uncle Bubba which Gary performed with McCoy and Soulstice ) and there are two standards ( Crazy She Calls Me and I Wish I Knew which Tyner famously recorded with Coltrane). It is a well-chosen and balanced set, but the selections are somewhat beside the point; this all-star quartet makes everything sound like magic. (Harmonia Mundi) Price: £14.99
On this rare new recording as a leader, "Inspirations & Dedications," Foster writes compositions as gifts to his wife, children, grandchildren, colleagues, and even himself. A moving album, it is bookended by a pair of classics by two of the jazz icons with whom the drummer has worked extensively: Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. And, each piece comes vividly to life through Fosters stellar quintet: trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, saxophonist Dayna Stephens, pianist Adam Birnbaum, and longtime bassist (and dedicatee) Doug Weiss. (Proper Music) Price: £14.99
