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Gary Bartz & Maisha: Night Dreamer Direct-To-Disc Sessions
Gary Bartz
saxophone, altob.1940
The backstory: The wedding planner who brought the parties together is the London DJ and founder of Brownswood Recordings, Gilles Peterson. Brownswood released Maisha's debut album, There Is A Place, in 2018. In summer 2019, Peterson staged the inaugural We Out Here festival (now scheduled to return in 2021), at which Maisha was Bartz' back-up band. So successful was the performance that Peterson brought everyone back together a few months later for a We Out Here-branded gig at London's Royal Festival Hall, as part of the annual EFG London Jazz Festival. (We Out Here began life as the title of a various-artists album, curated by
Shabaka Hutchings
woodwindsIn the month before the EFG gig, Bartz and Maisha had been busy with a string of European dates during which they spent two days in a studio in the Netherlands, recording this album for direct-to-disc specialists Night Dreamer Records. The five-track set includes remakes of Bartz' "Uhuru Sasa" from Harlem Bush Music (Milestone, 1971) and "Doctor Follows Dance" from Follow, The Medicine Man (Prestige, 1973). The other three tunes were collectively written by Bartz and Maisha on the road.
In the two-and-a-bit years between making There Is A Place and this new album, Maisha went through a few personnel changes. Founder/drummer
Jake Long
drumsShirley Tetteh
guitar, electricTwm Dylan
bass, electricAxel Kaner-Lidstrom
trumpet
Nubya Garcia
saxophoneAl Macsween
pianoYahael Camara-Onono
percussionTim Doyle
percussionBartz is the featured soloist here, with Maisha in support role. But when the individual members take a turn in the spotlight they shine. MacSween is particularly enjoyable on opener "Leta's Dance." Tetteh also stands out; her solo on the funked-up "Dr Follows Dance" is a delight. Both players are adept at ringing Bartz' spiritual jazz and electric-era
Miles Davis
trumpet1926 - 1991
Tetteh—who is interviewed here—is a singular stylist who has the potential to become a major star and is long overdue her own album. She elevated several discs by other musicians during 2019. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride, is not a role which she deserves. ">
Track Listing
Harlem To Haarlem; The Stank; Leta’s Dance; Uhuru Sasa; Dr Follows Dance.
Personnel
Gary Bartz
saxophone, altoJake Long
drumsShirley Tetteh
guitar, electricAl Macsween
pianoTwm Dylan
bass, electricAxel Kaner-Lidstrom
trumpetTim Doyle
percussionAlbum information
Title: Night Dreamer Direct-To-Disc Sessions | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Night Dreamer
Tags
Album Reviews
Chris May
Night Dreamer Direct-To-Disc Sessions
Night Dreamer
Gary Bartz
Maisha
Alice Coltrane
Pharoah Sanders
shabaka hutchings
Jake Long
Shirley Tetteh
Twm Dylan
Axel Kaner-Lidstrom
Nubya Garcia
Amané Suganami
Al Macsween
Yahael Camara-Onono
Tim Doyle
Miles Davis
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