Jazzman: Spiritual Jazz Vol.5 – Esoteric, Modal And Deep Jazz From Around The World 1961-79 Vinyl 2LP Jazzman

Crucial repress of the fifth entry in Jazzman’s Spiritual Jazz series! While the first four parts explored selections from American and European artists, this issue, simply put, collects deep jazz rarities from the rest of the world; an effort that would prove to be fruitful enough for later editions to more closely inspect a few of the specific regions first explored here. This collection explores the deep roots of American jazz and its origins in slave music, tracing its cross-pollination with other branches of the African diaspora and beyond. With recordings from all seven of the world’s continents, Jazzman shine a light on the regional jazz sounds of India (Louiz Banks, The Braz Gonsalves Seven), Australia (Charlie Munro), Japan (Hideo Shiraki), Turkey (Jazz Semai), Argentina (Jorge Lopez Ruiz, Chivo Borraro), Chile (Aquila), Canada (The London Experimental Jazz Quartet), Jamaica (Gitz Gore, Oladepo Ogomodede), South Africa (Tete Mbambisa), Chicago (Paul Winter Sextet) and even Antarctica (jk, not Antarctica). Feast your ears on Hideo Shiraki’s gorgeous, koto-laden “Fiesta,” a rare instance of black jazz-obsessed musicians in Japan incorporating traditional Japanese sounds. Other highlights include “Mezare Israel Yekabtzenu” by Israel’s Jazz Workshop (the full LP was just reissued), Tete Mbambisa’s Coltrane tribute featuring accomplished Cape Town tenor man Basil Coetzee, and Oladepo Ogomodede (aka Mickey O’Bryan)’s calypso-jazz version of Brubeck’s “Take Five.” 17 tracks altogether, each digitally restored from original master tapes, pressed on double vinyl and housed in high-quality textured gatefold with extensive essays, original album art and liner notes for each recording. This is a rare opportunity to be able to play some of the most unique jazz from around the world on your own turntable; an original 2014 pressing will cost you over a hundred bucks easy, as will any one of the original LPs sourced for this comp. Recommended.

• double vinyl pressing
• digitally restored from original masters
• deluxe textured gatefold jacket
• extensive liner notes + essays
• music label: Jazzman 2018

reviewed by nick nightingale 06/2018