Friday, June 27, 2008

Ghetto Mysticism

Stanton Davis' Ghetto-Mysticism - Brighter Days Outrageous Records #2 (1977)
Any common musical adjective applies here - celestial, cosmic, spaced-out fusion, deep spiritual jazz, afro, poly-rhythmic funky soul, yada yada...

Original private '77 press out of Somerville, Massachusetts although recorded a year or two earlier, trumpeter Stanton Davis assembles a whacked-out melting pot of good grooves here touching a variety of bases. A pretty good listen right through.

Stanton Davis - fluegelhorn, trumpet (4,5), vocal (1,2,5,8,9), percussion (1), prepared piano (3), mellotron & string synthesizer (6); Leonard Brown - soprano sax (1,2,7,8,9); tenor sax (3,4,5), percussion (1,5,6); Bill Pierce - soprano sax (5), alto flute (3); Jerome Harris (listed as "Jerry Harris) - guitar (1,2,5,7,8,9), bass guitar (3,4,5,6), vocal (1,8,9); "King" Wellington - calypso guitar (5); Lee Genesis - vocal (1,4,5,8,9); J.O. Wharthon - vocal (1,5); Armstead Christian - vocal (2,7,8,9); Rénée Franklin - vocal (1,2,7,8,9); Jeannine Otis - vocal (5,8,9); Dan Windham - spoken word (9); Alan Pasqua - keyboards (1,3,4,5,6); Delmar Brown - keyboards (1,2,4,5,7,8,9), vocal (1,2,5,7,8,9); Mark Styles - synthesizer (3); Jeff Anderson - bass guitar (1); Craig Carter - bass guitar (2,7,8,9); Vinnie Johnson - drums (1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9), percussion (2,7,8,9); Les Lumley - congas (1,2,4,5,7,8,9), percussion (3); Keith Copeland - percussion (2); Alyrio Lima Cova - percussion (4,5)

1) Things Cannot Stop Forever (Poon Tang Tally-Wacky)
2) Space-A-Nova I
3) Play Sleep
4) Brighter Days/Brighter Daze
5) Funky Fried Tofu
6) Nida
7) Space-A-Nova II
8) High Jazz
9) High Jazz Reprise

'I wish to dedicate this album to all who can hear their Heartbeat, But especially to those that have heard the heartbeat of another as well. Brighter Days/ Brighter Daze'.
-Stanton Davis Jr.-

CD Reissue coming out on March 15th 2011
http://culturesofsoulrecords.com/


21 comments:

Quimsy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Simon666 said...

Thankyou.
This sounds like all those things you said, yet at the same time it sounds unique. I keep saying things like "the headhunters meet eddie henderson at a funkadelic party" but nothing easily summarises it. I like this a lot.

dsw said...

Fantastic! I've only ever had a cassette dub of this one so it's great to get a clean digital copy. Interesting interview here:
http://www.stonesthrow.com/soulcal/scr110.htm

Much respect owing, Quimsy-- thanks!

peace,
heiku

ish said...

can't wait to hear it. thanks.

Bacoso said...

Looks like a corker and another one thats completely new to me - hats off to you sir !!!

Nick said...

this is a monster lp. A definite melting pot, like you said, but the dominant sound has always reminded me a little of the Mizell Bros' crazier moments with Johnny Hammond. "Play Sleep" has always been the cut for me. Thanks for posting this!

Reza said...

liking this thanks quimsy

blackclassical said...

This is a real blast from the past: Space-A-Nova II was very big in my youth and has evaded me all this time. Just had it on a dusty old C90...

Thanks a million Quimsy made my year :)

greg

johnv said...

Where do you come up with these, Quimsy? Your blog is like going to the coolest flea market record sale around!

Anonymous said...

Can hardly wait to listen to this sweetness.

Calisan said...

Woooooww creo q' no me habia emocionado tanto de ver una descripcion de un disco así desde hace ya algunos meses!!!
Me muero por escuchar!!
Gracias!

Solomon said...

Thank you! This has become one of my favorites! I probably listened to "Things Cannot Stop Forever (Poon Tang Tally-Wacky)" 50 times!

Unknown said...

you have the best taste of any mp3-blog on the internet. for serious. picked this up off ebay a few months ago, glad to not have to spend the time ripping it. thanks quimsy!

taro nombei said...

never did come back to comment after grabbing this last year :(
better late than never :)
this is an incredible share -- space-a-nova and things can't stop are classic!
thanks thanks quimsey

boogieman said...

I picked it up a while ago - I never comment before listening - and forgot to come back and say Thanks.
Amazing album but a lot of those seventies spiritual cum funk jazz albums were amazing. I just wish people would be that creative and adventurous again.
Cheers

Stylo350s said...

Great post, downloaded this sometime ago...thanks

shane said...

can someone please repost this? i'm dying to hear it, thanks!

bm pharmacy said...

Great sounds, it is really very good to hear this music.

Sixties-Chick said...

can you please repost???

Anonymous said...

Completely the dog's bollocks. Outstanding.

StºJames Jazz Club said...

any chance to re-up this one ??? Thank´s anyway , .......