Various Artists

Soul Jazz Records Presents: Soul Of A Nation

Image of Various Artists - Soul Jazz Records Presents: Soul Of A Nation

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Soul Jazz Records’ new release ‘Soul Of A Nation: Afro-Centric Visions In The Age Of Black Power - Underground Jazz, Street Funk & The Roots Of Rap 1968-79’ is released in conjunction with a major worldwide art exhibition, ‘Soul Of A Nation: Art In The The Age Of Black Power’, which takes place at the Tate Modern, London, UK (July-Oct 2017) and The Brooklyn Museum, New York, USA.

The album shows how the ideals of the civil rights movement, black power and black nationalism influenced the evolvement of radical African-American music in the United States of America in the intensely political and revolutionary period at the end of the 1960s following the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King and the rise of the Black Panther party.

Featuring ground-breaking artists such as Gil Scott-Heron, Roy Ayers, Don Cherry, Oneness Of Juju, Sarah Webster Fabio, Horace Tapscott, Phil Ranelin and many others, ‘Soul Of A Nation’ shows how political themes led to the rise of ‘conscious’ black music as new afro-centric styles combined the musical radicalism and spirituality of John Coltrane and radical avant-garde jazz music alongside the intense funk and soul of James Brown and Aretha Franklin and the urban poetry and proto-rap of the streets.

The ‘Soul Of A Nation’ exhibition draws on the links between Black art forms - art, music, poetry - and how they came together during the civil rights and black power era as part of the wider black arts movement across the United States.

Iconic African-Amercian revolutionary figures such as Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Angela Davis, John Coltrane and Muhammad Ali all appear in the radical artworks of Barkley L. Hendricks, Romare Bearden, Norman Lewis, Lorraine O’Grady and Betye Saar.

Stuart Baker (founder of Soul Jazz Records) will appear on the panel for a ‘Soul Of A Nation: Art In The Age Of Black Power’ discussion at the gallery as part of the show.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: This really is a fascinating and varied look into the start of an international appreciation of hip-hop, soul and funk. With more mellow afrobeat pieces segueing beautifully into more traditional fare, and even including some highly politically charged spoken-word accompaniments, this is yet another win for the Soul Jazz camp.

TRACK LISTING

Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Mandingo Griot Society With Don Cherry - Sounds From The Bush
Roy Ayers Ubiquity - Red, Black And Green
Philip Cohran And The Artistic Heritage Ensemble - Malcolm X
Sarah Webster Fabio - Sweet Songs
Phil Ranelin - Vibes From The Tribe
Horace Tapscott With The Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra - Desert Fairy Princess
David Mcknight - Strong Men
Joe Henderson - Black Narcissus
Oneness Of Juju - African Rhythms
Doug Carn - Suratal Ihklas
Duke Edwards And The Young Ones - Is It Too Late?
Carlos Garnett - Mother Of The Future

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