VARIOUS ARTISTS
A LOUD MINORITY-DEEP SPIRITUAL

Jazz in the 70s was in the depths of an economic recession, with clubs and record labels closing. Yet in lofts and in the few remaining live venues some incredible music was being made. Jazz musicians were influenced by the spirit of the age, be that radical politics, spiritual philosophies or pan-Africanism. Bob Shad was one of the few people still recording these sounds on a frontline record label and the recordings on this CD consequently offer a rare insight into an under-documented period of jazz music’s history. The title track, Frank Foster’s ‘The Loud Minority’, sets the tone with forward-thinking jazz sounds and a political message. We also have similar lines of musicianship from Harold Land – two tracks from his legendary group with Bobby Hutcherson – and Roy Haynes. There is fantastic playing from Hadley Caliman, Buddy Terry and Charles McPherson and a rare date as a leader from the excellent Johnny Coles. Legends of soul jazz Blue Mitchell and Mike Longo appear, the latter with a previously unreleased version of ‘Matrix’.