Celestial Blues: Cosmic Political & Spiritual Jazz

The ten tracks range from the evidently spiritual - such as Gary Bartz's classic 'Celestial Blues' or Joe Henderson & Alice Coltrane's astounding collaboration on 'Fire', to less obvious but just as relevant recordings by drummers Roy Brooks and Joe Chambers. Charles Earland's contribution bears a remarkable resemblance to 'Henrietta Our Hero' a stand-out track from 'The Epic', whilst Carlos Garnett and Azar Lawrence's mix of saxophone, strings and voices could be a template for Washington's whole sound. The compilation is completed by fine examples of the era's jazz from Hampton Hawes and Bayet Umbra Zindiko. Oliver Nelson's 'Aftermath' is an apt closer.