Celestial Blues Various Artists (BGP Various)

£11.70

Genre:
Spiritual Jazz
Label:
BGP
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDBGPD 300

This product is also available in these versions:
Celestial Blues, LP (£20.63)

Progressive jazz from the 1970s: music which has influenced Kamasi Washington and the Brainfeeder crew. Available in CD and double vinyl LP formats.

Something strange happened to jazz last year. An album by a previously under-the-radar session saxophonist broke through to international acclaim. “The Epic” by Kamasi Washington, an aptly named three CD set, paid homage to an era of jazz that had been rather overlooked. Sometimes called spiritual jazz, it dates from the latter part of the 60s and early 1970s. Many of the political and philosophical concepts of the time were used as guiding points for jazz’s increased mysticism. Searching for deeper meaning, the musicians were looking for jazz’s next great leap forward, while building on the post-bop and free jazz templates laid down by John Coltrane and Miles Davis, as well as contemporary sounds such as funk and soul, African and Middle Eastern music with touches of rock and contemporary composition.

This development was set against a background of American jazz at a crisis point. The neighbourhood clubs had begun to close as the jazz audience diminished; black Americans had found new sounds to dance to and enjoy. Jazz took on a new role, as its practitioners began to create challenging new music, providing hooks through funk bass-lines, boogaloo beats and sometimes vocals. This form was unlikely to ever enjoy large sales and could only be found on independent labels such as Prestige, Muse, Black Jazz, Strata East or Tribe.

Sales were modest and the records were somewhat ignored by jazz critics, but in the early 90s younger European collectors began to pick up on them, as did US hip hop producers looking for breaks and samples. They saw the records as part of the overall story of black American music, alongside those of Isaac Hayes, Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye, who had all absorbed many of the same influences and concerns.

These fans, and those who followed, recognised that Kamasi Washington was set on the same path. Not only with his “out” but not quite free saxophone, but the banks of vocals, strings and analogue keyboards. Artists including Carlos Garnett, Gary Bartz and Azar Lawrence – who all played with Miles Davis in his fierce early 70s period – are touchstones, but so, oddly enough, are Hammond organist Charles Earland and vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater and Jean Carn.

“Celestial Blues” is a selection of music that complements the sound of “The Epic”. If not its original sources, it includes something akin to the influences utilised by Kamasi Washington and his group as they have taken jazz to a new audience.

Dean Rudland

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Celestial Blues - Gary Bartz NTU Troop

  • 02 Preview Fire - Joe Henderson & Alice Coltrane

  • 03 Preview Warriors Of Peace - Azar Lawrence

  • 04 Preview Brown Eyes - Charles Earland

  • 05 Preview The Free Slave - Roy Brooks

  • 06 Preview The Alomoravid - Joe Chambers

  • 07 Preview Let Us Go (To Higher Heights) - Carlos Garnett

  • 08 Preview Let It Take Your Mind - Bayeté Umbra Zindiko

  • 09 Preview Josie Black - Hampton Hawes

  • 10 Preview Aftermath (Edited version) - Oliver Nelson

Delivery & Returns

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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