A massive set of music – and one that includes all the rare
Palm label recordings made by reedman Byard Lancaster in Paris during the 70s! First up is Us – a set that features a really freewheeling trio brought together under the leadership of reedman Byard Lancaster – a group that features the great AACM drummer Steve McCall, who you'll know from his work in another trio, Air – and bassist Sylvain Marc, who plays an electric version of his instrument on the set! There's a very strong AACM vibe to the music – a balance between personal, spiritual moments – and others that have the trio really taking off, especially when McCall really kicks it up on drums – a performance that really seems to show the versatility of Lancaster, as he blows beautifully on alto, tenor, and flute. Both McCall and Byard have some great solo moments – and the title track actually gets a bit funky too, in sort of an early Joe McPhee mode! Titles include "Just Test", "Us", "John III", "Flore", and "McCall All". Next is Mother Africa – one of the boldest statements ever made by reedman Byard Lancaster – a really freewheeling live set recorded in Paris, and done with the hard-burning energy that marked some of the classic late 60s sessions for BYG! Lancaster's key musical partner here is trumpeter Clint Jackson III, who's equally on fire here – effortlessly moving next to Byard as the pair chop up sound and space while spinning out these really amazing improvisations – in the company of Jean-Francois Catoire on both acoustic and electric bass, Keno Speller on percussion, and Jonathan Dickinson. And while the album definitely resonates with the very free jazz in Paris in 1969, it also has some moments of structure that really balance things out as well – almost working as a bridge to the loft jazz scene, especially with some of the spiritual currents that Byard brings to the music. Titles include "We The Blessed" and "Mother Africa". The album Exactement features some of the most beautiful, most introspective music ever recorded by the great Byard Lancaster – a set that brings his work on reeds and piano into play with the percussion of Keno Speller! Lancaster is clearly the driving force here – there are a lot of fantastic solo passages, many with a more tuneful sense of structure than some of Byard's freer work – and his work on piano, flute, bass clarinet, and soprano sax is stunning throughout – augmented by Speller in just the right ways! One track uses an octavoice to create a really wonderful sound – almost a more spiritual take on territory explored by Eddie Harris – and the double-length set is overflowing with brilliance, with tracks that include "Keno Exactement", "Virginia", "Dr Oliver W Lancaster", "
Palm Sunday", "C Marianne Alicia", and "Providence Baptist Church". Funny Funky Rib Crib is a rare French session from American reedman Byard Lancaster – and easily one of his funkiest albums ever! The set's got a hip mix of avant jazz and groovier rhythms – bits of guitar and keyboards alongside sharper reeds and percussion – all in a way that's a bit like some of the funky French work cut by Hal Singer! Byard's still as progressive as ever, but focused more on the groove than before – not in a commercial way, but in a style that pushes his music strongly forward to the people. Lancaster plays mostly sax, but also a bit of flute and piano, and even vocalizes on one cut too – and other players include Francois Nyombo on guitar, Francois Tusques on electric piano, Clint Jackson on trumpet, Joseph Traindl on trombone, Del Rabenja on tenor, and both Marc Sylvain and Steve McCall on drums. Titles include "Rib Crib (parts 1 & 2)", "Dogtown", "Loving Kindness", "Work & Pray", and "Just Test". The set also features the rare extended track "Love Always" – originally for the sessions that created Mother Africa.