About this item

Two x CD sets that examine the influence and expression of the underground jazz that evolved in California and surrounding states during the latter part of the 20th century.

The West Coast of the USA has long been associated with the ‘cool jazz’ popular explosion of the 1950s, though wherever jazz was played, modal, Afro-centric and spiritualised streams flowed and flourished too - the West Coast was no exception. In the post-war years, Los Angeles’ Central Avenue was second only to Manhattan as America’s greatest jazz district. Yet while Manhattan might have been the de facto centre of the jazz universe during these years, it was California that came to exert the greater pull on culture at large, drawing people from across America toward its burgeoning 1960s counter-culture.

Here we explore the effects of that counter-culture on jazz. We examine the influence of the most significant force in post-civil rights Black politics – the Black Panthers, and we delve into the novel spiritual practices and religions of the coming ‘New Age’. A variety of idiosyncratic indies such as Arhoolie, Theresa and Nimbus were located in California as well as many more private enterprises, and we showcase the results of their efforts to express their musical freedom. All of these factors can be seen to have an influence on the way that jazz and jazz musicians developed and thrived on the West Coast - and the evolution of spiritual jazz here is examined in detail.

TRACK LISTING

01: Chico Hamilton Quintet - Blue Sands
02: Victor Feldman - New Delhi
03: Hank Bagby - Iborian
04: Les McCann - Damascus
05: Ken Jensen Quartet - Cheap Blue
06: Buddy Collette - Jungle Pipe
07: Earl Anderza - Outa Sight
08: Curtis Amy - Shaker Heights
09: Roy Haynes - Wives And Lovers
10: Curtis Amy & Dupree Bolton - Native Land
11: Mills Monarchs Of Jazz - My! Oh! My!
12: Harold Land - Timetable
13: Now Creative Arts Ensemble - Pretty Good
14: Charles Lloyd - Dervish Dance
15: Pharoah Sanders - Living Space
16: Infinite Sound - Spanish Tale
17: Buddy Collette - Safari West
18: Billy Higgins - John Coltrane
19: PE Hewitt - Sad Sunday
20: Jazz Symphonics - Weird Sisters
21: Rickey Kelly - Danakil Warrior
22: Ed Kelly Ensemble - Ring Shout Ballet
23: Luna - Nisaba In The Grass
24: Ambiance - 10/10