Naked Lunch

The great Malcolm Earl "Mal" Waldron makes his debut on Naked Lunch with a collection of his own compositions recorded in New York City during the early 60’s on a Trio formation with George Tucker on Bass and Al Dreares at the Drums. The composing skills of Waldron as a post-bop key figure are here on full display on both sides, although pieces like “Modal-Air”, “Summerday”, “Ollie’s Caravan” and “Quiet Temple” really squeeze the creative juice off the Trio’s playing, with Tucker and Dreares laying the rhythmic textures on Mal’s many piano’s inventions.

An ambitious compilation album of rare early recordings of "calypso," which originated in Trinidad at the beginning of the 20th century and developed into its modern form, has been released in analog format. In the 1920s, when calypso was in its infancy, singers and composers called "calypsonians" performed in "tents" (tarpaulin-covered gardens and union halls) for the people of Trinidad and tourists. This album is a compilation of all of these calypso classics!

Classic tracks from the early years of highlife in Ghana – a time when the guitar-based styles and lively rhythms of the genre were first coming into play, and mixed with some of the more jazz-based styles of years before! The mix here is almost a West African equivalent to the rise of western swing in the US at the end of the 30s – a way of mixing older instrumental ensemble styles with some more contemporary, more regional elements – sounding wonderful her in some key examples of the style! The package features a full side of work from Ramblers International – titles that include "Odansanyi", "Ahomka Won", "Woman Wanko", "Akokonini Abankwa", and "Wgya Saman" – plus other tracks that include "School Girl" and "You Call Me Roko" by ET Mensah & The Tempos, "Son Of Africa" by Kwamalah Quaey Sextetto Africana, "Obaa Amponsa Pandogo" by The Black Star Band, and "Fancy Baby" by John Santos Martins.

If you are in search of the origins of Jamaican music this is a great album to start with. Mento was the original Jamaican folk music that predates Ska and Reggae. Played Exclusively on acoustic instruments Mento was based on both African and European elements. The 1950s was Mento’s golden age, as many artists recorded songs using a variety of rhythms and styles. It was the peak of Mento’s creativity and popularity and the birth of Jamaica’s recording industry.

 

Recorded in 1957 and released on the Prestige label, "Sound of Yusef" features Lateef's quintet with Wilbur Harden - flugelhorn, Hugh Lawson - piano, Ernie Farrow - bass, and Oliver Jackson - drums. Lateef's aesthetic was a perfect mixture of hard-driving jazz and a variety of ethnic materials. Even though If compared to later works, "Sounds of Yusef" is still very much rooted in Jazz while the use of traditional ethnic instruments adds colors and flavors without really deviating from the American Jazz tradition. Lateef shines on both tenor sax and flute while the rhythm section swings hard throughout a varied repertoire including an airy version of Strayhorn's ultra-classic "Take the A Train" and a contemplative Lateef's original called "Meditation".  

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