This single-disc volume brings together the first two chapters in saxophonist and composer Marion Brown's stellar Impulse! trilogy. Geechee Recollections (1973) and Sweet Earth Flying (1974) are, along with their final chapter, Vista (1975), arguably the finest moments in his catalog. Thematically, these two titles and Vista examine and celebrate the legacy of poet Jean Toomer and also revisit Brown's childhood in Atlanta and around the Georgia countryside. They are grounded in Southern folk themes and blues with just a kiss of funk. The musicians on Geechee Recollections are vocalist Bill Hasson (who actually does a long-form accompanied sung/spoken recitation of Toomer's poem "Karintha"), percussionist Jumma Santos, trumpeter (pre-Wadada) Leo Smith, drummer Steve McCall, and bassist James Jefferson as well as others on percussion. Brown plays alto, soprano, and clarinet. The second of these two albums acts as a mirror image to the first. While the themes are the same, none of Toomer's poetry is actually used and Hasson speaks on only one selection. While there was no piano on Geechee Recollections, there are two pianists on Sweet Earth Flying, in Muhal Richard Abrams and Paul Bley. Both players use Rhodes as well as acoustic pianos, and Abrams plays an organ on the fourth part of the title suite. The rhythm section features Jefferson on upright and electric bass and McCall on drums and percussion. What holds everything together is Brown's playing: it always begins quietly and tentatively, almost haltingly, in the way he poetically approaches the material. On all his horns, however, he soon becomes the voice of authority underscoring his bandmembers as well as singing above them, pushing them toward something he wants them as well as the listener to be able to grasp aurally. While it would have been terrific to have this be a double disc with Vista added to round out the trilogy, the two albums presented here are a stellar introduction to Brown's most creative period. Remastered from analog tapes, the sound is full, rich, spacious, and warm. - Thom Jurek
Tracks
01. Once Upon a Time (A Children's Tale) (Marion Brown)
02. Karintha (Marion Brown/Jean Toomer)
03. Buttermilk Bottom (Marion Brown)
04. Introduction (Marion Brown)
05. Tokalokaloka, Pt. 1 (Marion Brown)
06. Tokalokaloka, Pt. 2 (Marion Brown)
07. Tokalokaloka, Pt. 3 (Marion Brown)
08. Ending (Wadada Leo Smith)
09. Sweet Earth Flying, Pt. 1 (Marion Brown)
10. Sweet Earth Flying, Pt. 3 (Marion Brown)
11. Sweet Earth Flying, Pt. 4: Prince Willie (Marion Brown/Bill Hasson)
12. Sweet Earth Flying, Pt. 5 (Marion Brown)
13. Eleven Light City, Pt. 1 (Marion Brown)
14. Eleven Light City, Pt. 2 (Marion Brown)
15. Eleven Light City, Pt. 3 (Marion Brown)
16. Eleven Light City, Pt. 4 (Marion Brown)
MARION BROWN alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, percussion
JAMES JEFFERSON bass, cello, percussion
WADADA LEO SMITH brass, strings, percussion (1-8)
JUMMA SANTOS congas, percussion (1-8)
STEVE McCALL drums, percussion
WILLIAM MALONE mbira, autoharp, percussion (1-8)
BILL HASSON narrator, percussion
A. KOBENA ADZENYAH percussion, idiophone (1-8)
MUHAL RICHARD ABRAMS piano, e-piano, organ (9-16)
PAUL BLEY piano, e-piano, organ (9-16)
"Geechee Recollections" originally released in 1973 as AS-9252 and recorded June 4-5, 1973 at intermedia Sound Studios, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
"Sweet Earth Flying" originally released in 1974 as AS-9252 and recorded May 6-7, 1974 at intermedia Sound Studios, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Impulse! - 06025 2780943