What immediately striked me when I put this on was three things, the music is unbelievable good, this album was recorded very loud and it was recorded superbly. The sound just blasts out of the speakers and the detail and balance is off the charts. Fantastic low-end. Hadn’t heard an original Mainstream album before. Very impressive.
I’ve been enjoying some of Harold Land’s dates as a leader lately and just filed this title from 1972 and ”The Peace-Maker” from the late 60’s. Both are outstanding. This one is probably one of my favorites of the year so far.
The band consists of Land on tenor and oboe (wonderful playing and sound from Land on the oboe), Oscar Brashear on trumpet and flugelhorn, Bill Henderson on Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano, Buster Williams on Fender and double bass and Ndugu (Leon Chancler) on drums. The whole group is on point. I really dig Brashear and as a trumpet lover I need to check out his catalogue in depth. Buster Williams was a fantastic bassist and I have managed ro get some of his work into the collection. Will explore further. Ndugu’s drum work is something to behold as well. Another cat to check out.
The music touches the modal, spritual, funk and post bop. What more could you ask for? If you haven’t heard this, go explore. Highly recommended.