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LP
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MIL 006LP
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Originally released in 1971. 2017 reissue. 180 gram vinyl. Old-school style tip-on gatefold sleeve. "Harlem Bush Music combines two Gary Bartz Ntu Troop albums recorded in November of 1970 and January of 1971. The title itself shows that soprano/alto Bartz and singer Andy Bey were moving toward a more expansive format to explore black consciousness within the realm of jazz. The small-group arrangements spin out long grooves on 'Rise' and 'People Dance' while smooth vocalist Bey adds a steady lyrical mix that weaves in and out of the music. Bass and percussion add a heavy rhythmic effect to 'Drinking Song' and 'Vietcong,' pushing both pieces steadily forward. The overall sound of Harlem Bush Music is evocative, if unusual, but occasionally becomes stagnant -- as with the ten-minute 'People Dance' -- without melodic variation. There are lots of surprises, though. Bartz's narratives in 'Parted' and 'A Warrior's Song' combined with bursts of music will seem dated but nonetheless intriguing, while 'Blue (A Folk Tale)' shifts intriguingly over its 18-minute length. How one finally looks at Harlem Bush Music -- is it music, politics, or something in between -- matters less than understanding the time and place that it was made. And whether one ultimately finds these efforts by the Gary Bartz Ntu Troop satisfying or tiring matters less than appreciating the adventurous spirit that went into making them." --Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. (All Music)
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2CD
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M 1315CD
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"The musical life of the American jazz saxophonist Gary Bartz is busy and eventful. The eighty-year-old American Bartz jammed with Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan and Pharoah Sanders at a young age. In 1965 he became a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In 1970 Bartz joined the Miles Davis Band, played with Davis at the Isle Of Wight -- Festival and on his studio/live album Live Evil. In 1972 Gary Bartz founded his own band, NTU Troop. He borrowed the name from the Bantu language. Bartz: 'Ntu means unity in all things, in time and space, life and death, in the visible and the invisible. Musically, it stands for an alliance of bop, free, rock and African music.' On 8th November 1975, Gary Bartz performed with the NTU Troop in Bremen's Post-Aula. Radio Bremen was there and now the recording is being released physically and digitally on Moosicus. Gary Bartz was joined on stage by drummer Howard King, bassist Curtis Robertson and pianist Charles Mims, an extraordinary, musically brilliant quartet that was well-rehearsed and coordinated. Unfortunately, it was short-lived, because quite soon after this performance, the NTU Troop went their separate ways again. King, Robertson and Mims went on to work with Roberta Flack, Lou Rawls and Patrice Rushen, among others, while Bartz continued his solo career with such major labels as Capitol Records and Arista. For Gary Bartz, jazz is 'improvised composing', which can be heard on this live album recorded 46 years ago."
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