Message from the Tribe

[ghost of miles]

Found this today on an expedition to a newly-reopened B-town CD store (the owner died a couple of weeks ago). It's called MESSAGE FROM THE TRIBE: AN ANTHOLOGY OF TRIBE RECORDS, 1972-1977, music by some Detroit jazzers kinda doing an Art Ensemble/Sun Ra collective thing, it appears. Players include Marcus Belgrave, Phil Ranelin, and Doug Hammond; it's put out on the Universal Sound label. Looked too weird, interesting, and possibly cool to pass up, esp. at a marked-down price. Anybody familiar w/the Tribe label/group and this CD?

[JSngry]

I've got old Tribe LPs by Ranelin & Wendell Harrison. Interetsting stuff, kind of a "local" Strata-East vibe. Recording's not too high quality, but certainly listenable.

I'd recommend what I've heard of it as a worthy exploration for those interested in finding out what else has happened in jazz over the years besides the output of the "name brands". The influences are the same as what everybody else was gfetting, but the "flavor" is unique. A good horizon-broadener for those who feel "tapped out" by the established canon.

[Jim Dye]

Yeah, I have that disc too. It's a nice overview of that Detroit scene. Cool booklet and packaging. I heard Marcus quite a few times locally when I was living in Michigan. It was nice to see some of his earlier stuff making to CD.

[Adam]

I have the original two albums, whcih Ranelin has been selling at his appearances in Los Angeles. He lives here. Summarized well above. Reissued as LP and CD, for DJs, etc. He's been playing some of that music as well, and it's very enjoyable live.