... LP, Vinyl record album

A true treasure from this righteous Philly collective – a group who only issued one album in the 70s, and who finally double their catalog with the release of this rare performance from 1973! Sounds Of Liberation have this all-star lineup of musicians who did great work in Philadelphia and elsewhere – with Khan Jamal on vibes, Monette Sudler on guitar, and Omar Hill and Rashid Salim on percussion – working alongside some great work on flute and alto from Byard Lancaster, heavy bass from Billy Mills, and just the right touch of drums from Dwight James! The style here is maybe tighter, and occasionally more funky than on their one self-titled album – but the group also stretch out strongly too – hitting all the right spots in this forward-thinking blend of spiritual jazz modes, of the sort that would have made them a huge 70s ensemble, had they held on and found the right venue. Titles include the extended "New Horizon", plus "Badi", "Sweet Evil Mist", "Thoughts", and "Keno". CD

An amazing reunion of a legendary group – the 70s free jazz trio of Sam Rivers on reeds, Dave Holland on bass, and Barry Altschul on drums! Rivers had already carved out a strong name for himself with earlier work – but his meeting with Holland and Altschul really helped the reedman take off – and together, the three musicians made some of the most creatively unbridled work of Sam's career! And yet the players hadn't worked together for over 25 years – until the time of this special recording, done as part of a Sam Rivers marathon at Columbia University – an amazing moment in jazz that has all three members of the group picking up beautifully, and improvising together in a long session of music that's simply mindblowing! The album's easily one of the best we've heard from Rivers in his later years – and has all the sort of soulful undercurrents that take us back to the 70s loft jazz years of the original group – sounding way more like some lost tapes from the old days than the reunion captured within. Genius – and a great treasure from the late Rivers! CD