The
power of the human voice, especially when held in song, has long been known to
be immensely influential, potent and emotive across all of humankind. When
conveying a message, the spoken word - whether in speech, poetry or song - is
infinitely more evocative than that of written. And when that message is voiced
in the realm of jazz, amidst the open and dramatic freedom that only jazz can
provide, the message can be all the more poignant.
Having
examined spiritual jazz as it was expressed in the US, and then followed its
messengers and influences in Europe and beyond, our sixth instalment of our
Spiritual Jazz series showcases jazz vocals: a collection of jazz messages that
are united in voice.
The
majority of tracks here are as political as they are theological, but it's the
inner sanctity of the music that is the defining factor. These are songs that
concern themselves with the universal condition of this world, as well as the
next. In fact, as the distinction between the theological and the humanistic is
blurred, so is the definition of a song - many of the tracks are atypical in
that they do not possess lyrics with a beginning, middle and end. Likewise the
voices that convey them often can't be said to be 'singing' in the usual sense
of the word; we hear solemn chanting, intense wailing, earnest poetry and
ardent recitation in between bouts of singing, the quality of which is often
nothing short of exquisite. The styles of performance encompass modern jazz,
the avant-garde and jazz fusion, and include elements of styles from the long
and winding path of the African diaspora, including Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean
and other Pan-American rhythms.
Spiritual
Jazz 6: Vocals examines some of the rarest and most extraordinary vocal jazz
recordings. We have included some well-known songs, as well as some of the most
obscure. There are tracks recorded made for major labels, and some that were
issued privately. But all of them speak or sing of a better place or a better
world, and the world can only be a better place when they are played.
This is
esoteric jazz, modal jazz, spiritual jazz - as performed with the human voice.
· All
tracks fully licensed and digitally restored from the original master tapes
·
Comprehensive liner notes with added individual notes on each track and
original stories direct from the musicians involved
· CD
with 24 page colour booklet with in-depth liner notes, album cover scans and
previously unpublished photographs
· Most
tracks never before reissued - previously only available on rare, long-deleted
LPs
· Deluxe
double vinyl LP pressing with gloss gatefold sleeve.
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