Description
From Elemental Music comes the long overdue vinyl reissue of one of greatest and most standalone albums in both the legendary Blue Note catalog and the history of American jazz: the longtime Sun Ra Arkestra trumpeter Eddie Gales 1968 debut Ghetto Music. A towering hybrid of free jazz, spiritual jazz, and gospel, infused with politics of Black Nationalism and self-determination of its era that culminate in a writhing, heavy sound like nothing else, its one of those records that pulls the rug out and leaves you gasping for more.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Eddie Gale cut his teeth playing withJackie McLean,John Coltrane,Sonny Stitt,Booker Ervin, andIllinois Jacquet, among others. He studied withKenny Dorham, and played trumpet inSun Ras Arkestra for significant amount of the 1960s and ’70s – his trumpet can be heard carving its way across Ra classics like Secrets of the Sun, Lanquidity, The Other Side of the Sun, and On Jupiter – and was a member ofCecil Taylors band, appearing on the pianists astounding Unit Structures in 1966. During a hiatus from the Arkestra in the late 1960s, Gale ventured out on his own and laid down two records as a leader for Blue Note, the first of which was Ghetto Music, issued in 1968 (the second being 1969s Black Rhythm Happening). Neither sit comfortably within the labels larger catalog (or anywhere), and quickly fell out of pint and were never repressed, becoming among the labels rarest artefacts on the collectors market.
Eddie Gales’ Ghetto Music was conceived as a full-scale musical production with costumes, acting, and dramatic presentation and is a musical reflection of his life in the ghetto. This is very much a personal portrait; for he wrote, arranged and conducted all of the music. He believes a strong foundation is essential before taking the listeners on a kaleidoscopic journey into the unknown. In Eddie’s case, the beautiful melodies are the launching pad for his expeditions.The core of the music is to be found in the six piece band who provide the drive, momentum and expression. The musicians are only part of the total experience, however, for the 11 voice Noble Gale Singers provide a wailing counterpoint to the musical instruments giving added depth and strength to the music.
There is a totality to Eddie Gales Ghetto Music, a remarkable cohesion and sense of form. With Ghetto Music, Eddie Gales creativity has been able to blossom into a world of its own. (via Blue Note)
Label: Elemental Music / Blue Note
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Gatefold
Country: Europe
Reissued: 2024 / Original Release: 1968
Genre: Jazz
Style: Soul-Jazz, Free Jazz
File under: Avant Garde / Free Jazz
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