JSngry Posted August 19, 2008 Report Posted August 19, 2008 A look at the personnel will let you know what's up here: Joe Chambers - Drums, Marimba, Vibes Eddie Martinez - Electric Piano Herb Bushler - Bass Omar Clay - Percussion Paul Metzke - Guitar Dick Meza - Sax (Tenor, Soprano) Ray Mantilla - Latin percussion, Conga, Misc Middle 70s, a little electric Gil, a little pre-M'Boom percussionisity, some Latin influx (Meza was all over Barretto's progressive Fania sides of just a few years earlier), in other words, the 70s when the 70s were still open (and fun). with fusion not yet entirely enslaved by Fusion. And this music very much lives up to the ideal of fusion as an idea, a notion that music could/should be opened up for musical reasons. Joe Chambers ain't never been no whore, and he ain't one here. The compositions are all meaty, and the players tackle them as serious pieces, not vessels for ego-tripping. People who just don't want to hear electric and/or latin and/or "rock" instruments & influences just because they are electric and/or latin and/or "rock" instruments & influences, hey, this ain't for you. Obviously. But everybody else, give a listen. This record was a very pleasant surprise for me, since I was around in 1976, but never knew of it then. My loss, but batter late than never, and if anything, the music sounds fresher now than it would have then. It's got that vitality of being in the moment (and "of its time, in the good way) that too much of today's intentionally retro-looking music (including retro-THIS type stuff...) lacks. Highly recommended, actually, at least as much for spirit as for anything else, but there's plenty of anything else here too. And if you pulled the vinyl rip off a blog before the reissue hit, hey - it's time to do the right thing. Quote
RDK Posted August 19, 2008 Report Posted August 19, 2008 Got this early today from emusic but haven't had a chance to really listen to it yet. The samples were tantalizing. Quote
JSngry Posted August 19, 2008 Author Report Posted August 19, 2008 Some people might take pause because of a lack of "great" soloing/soloists. And that's a valid observation. I just don't think it's relevant to the music's intent in either conception or performance. Quote
Stefan Wood Posted August 19, 2008 Report Posted August 19, 2008 Joe Chambers always seems to fall in the cracks where recommended albums are concerned. You can always expect strong compositions and playing. This is a nice surprise -- who knew that this existed? Also, check out his "Mirrors" cd on Blue Note. A neglected and excellent cd! Quote
clifford_thornton Posted August 20, 2008 Report Posted August 20, 2008 I like New World. It's fun. Quote
JSngry Posted August 20, 2008 Author Report Posted August 20, 2008 who knew this existed? i think a lot of people. i have owned the LP for years. as i am sure jsangz did. an overlooked chambers session is the muse duo session with larry young! wish that would get reissued. Well, I bought that Chambers/Young side new back in the day! I was kinda looking for anything Joe Chambers related back then, especially after The Almavorid., which was kinda like a cult classic that only a few people picked up on, but those who did, dug it. Yet, this Finite side totally passed me by. Maybe it didn't have distribution in my part of the country. This was before the internet, and even before too much mail-order sophistication, remember. otoh, I did see the Al Foster Laurie side. Once. And only once. btw = Double Exposure sees constant vinyl reissue over at DG. Quote
Noj Posted August 20, 2008 Report Posted August 20, 2008 I really like The Almoravid, so this will be a no-brainer for me next round with emusic. Quote
mikeweil Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 (edited) I knew this was issued but never saw a copy. Was on my search list for decades! Where can I get this? p.s. found it - the Florida saurian ships to Germany. Edited September 9, 2008 by mikeweil Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 (edited) Was a little on the fence about this one, but this thread has given me the push to get it next time I do an order. Based on Jim's fine description up above, I suspect NEW WORLD may well be a close cousin of the following... John Betsch Society -- Earth Blossom (Strata East, 1974) Any opinions of the John Betsch date, Jim?? (or anybody??) I really like it quite a lot. Like the Chambers, there's no earth-shattering soloists here either, but I think that's secondary to the aim of the music. And 75% of the rest of your description of the Chambers fits this date too (to my ears). FYI, the Betsch date is available on CD from Dusty, FWIW. A little pricy at $19, but I didn't mind a bit when the music turned out to be as good as it was. Edited September 9, 2008 by Rooster_Ties Quote
JSngry Posted September 9, 2008 Author Report Posted September 9, 2008 I've not yet gotten to the Betsch, even though there have been opportunities along the way. No excuse other than that you always gotta leave something for later, it seems. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 I've not yet gotten to the Betsch, even though there have been opportunities along the way. No excuse other than that you always gotta leave something for later, it seems. Here's another push. If you ever get it, you won't regret it, I promise. Quote
randyhersom Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 I've already replaced my vinyl with an eMusic burn and had a listen. Already have the 32 Jazz reissue of The Almoravid and love 'em both. The Almoravid has a taste of some obscure Woody Shaw, but in limited quantites, he's not on all tracks. The music is fairly unique, Bennie Maupin's ECM date The Jewel In the Lotus may be the closest comparison I could come up with. Quote
randyhersom Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 The Betsch is on eMusic too. Quote
randyhersom Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 Trivia Question. Herb Bushler appears on another session I consider a classic. Checking Allmusic.com I see that there may be two or three discs that fit that description, so I'll add that the date I am thinking of is from 1964 and pairs Bushler with drummer Dick Berk and two horns. The session(s) did produce more than one album. Quote
sidewinder Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 Ted Curson 'The New Thing and the Blue Thing', with Bill Barron? Quote
randyhersom Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 You get the points, even though I was thinking of Tears for Dolphy. The New Thing and the Blue Thing might have added a piano. Quote
randyhersom Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 Flip Top was a third release that included Bushler recorded that year. Quote
clifford_thornton Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 Bushler & Berk sounded really good with the Curson-Barron front line. Quote
mikeweil Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 You get the points, even though I was thinking of Tears for Dolphy. The New Thing and the Blue Thing might have added a piano. Yes - Georges Arvanitas. That Curson band was good! Liked the Bushler/Berk team a lot. Berk went on to live in California,played with Cal Tjader in the early 1970's. Bushler was with Gil Evans and Tony Williams' Lifetime at that time - wonder what has become of him since. Quote
mikeweil Posted September 9, 2008 Report Posted September 9, 2008 (edited) Bushler & Berk - a great team name, too! Well, Workman & Chambers, OTOH ... Edited September 9, 2008 by mikeweil Quote
clifford_thornton Posted September 15, 2008 Report Posted September 15, 2008 Herb Bushler is still alive - he was very happy, apparently, with the reissue of New World. Quote
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