Sold Date: November 22, 2020
Start Date: August 8, 2019
Final Price: $26.97 (USD)
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Lonnie Liston Smith

Astral Traveling

REISSUE
For many jazz fans, pianist Lonnie Liston Smith irredeemably blotted his copy book decades ago. Right enough, for Smith's smooth jazz and quiet storm albums of the 1980s and 1990s were bland, blissed-out, insubstantial affairs. But between 1965, when he was featured on saxophonist (Rahsaan) 's Here Comes The Whistleman (Atlantic), and the early 1970s, when he was a member of trumpeter ' electric group, Smith was not only on the page, he was helping to write it.

From 1969-73, Smith was a key player in the astral jazz movement led by pianist/harpist and saxophonist . It was Sanders who made the first fully-formed astral jazz album, his Bob Thiele-produced Impulse! debut, Tauhid (1967). Smith was featured as pianist (and occasional co-arranger) on five Sanders albums: Izipho Zam (Strata-East, 1969) and Impulse!'s Karma (1969), Jewels Of Thought (1970), Summun Bukmun Umyun (1970) and Thembi (1971). Smith did not work with Coltrane: she played all the piano she needed, plus the harp and Wurlitzer organ.

In Sanders' bands, Smith approximated the sweeping harp and piano glissandos which were emblematic of Coltrane's spin on astral jazz. He also added block chord accompaniments more redolent of (an early influence), and fit into the music's hum-able melodies and vamp- and ostinato-driven grooves like they were made for him.

With Sanders, Smith played a supporting role, but an important one. The trouble, the intimations of quiet storm, came when Smith started leading his own band, the Cosmic Echoes. Well, not exactly when he started. The group's debut, Astral Traveling—produced by Thiele for Flying Dutchman, the label he set up on leaving Impulse! in 1969—was rooted in the sound of Sanders' bands. Revisited almost 40 years later, it still has weight.

Astral Traveling leads off with two tunes associated with Sanders: the title track, written by Smith, which Sanders and Smith had recorded on Thembi, and "Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord," a traditional gospel tune which they had recorded on Summun Bukmun Umyun, where it had been arranged by Smith.

 
The Cosmic Echoes circa 1974


Smith, who is mainly heard on acoustic piano, solos infrequently, and approaches Astral Traveling much as he did Sanders' albums: embellishing the melodies and subsuming himself in the collective groove.

The other musicians—anchored by bassist (a frequent member of Sanders' lineups) and drummer David Lee Jr—drive the ostinatos and add color. There are three percussionists, including conga player James Mtume and tabla player (both Sanders alumni), and on "In Search Of Truth" (at 7:08, the longest track), Geeta Vashi is heard on tamboura, astral jazz's signature instrument.

At no point does Astral Traveling reach the heights of Sanders' or Coltrane's contemporaneous albums, but on "Rejuvenation," "I Mani (Faith)" and "In Search Of Truth" it gets close enough. Anyone bitten by the astral jazz bug is sure to find plenty to enjoy on the disc.

Tracks: Astral Traveling; Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord; Rejuvenation; I Mani (Faith); In Search Of Truth; Aspirations; Astral Traveling (alternate take); Rejuvenation (alternate take); I Mani Faith (alternate take); In Search Of Truth (alternate take).

Personnel: Lonnie Liston Smith: piano, electric piano; George Barron: soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone; Joe Beck: guitar; Cecil McBee: bass; David Lee Jr.: drums; Sonny Morgan: percussion, conga; James Mtume: percussion, conga; Badal Roy: tabla; Geeta Vashi: tamboura.


_____________________________________ PACKING VINYL THE RIGHT WAY
Tired of getting damaged records mailed in flimsy used boxes? Tired of seam splits through album covers b/c the record wasn't properly fitted in the box?

I individually and meticulously package every piece by hand to ensure you receive the same album or LPs in the same condition they were when I boxed them.

I package each record like I am sending it to myself. I hate bent corners and seam splits. That?s why I take the time to package each record and prepare the mailer for potential issues during transit. All records come in vinyl mailer boxes and packaged using bubble wrap. Each jacket and record are packaged separate but beside one another slipped inside a 3mm poly sleeve. Each box mailer includes  a cardboard ?plank? applied to each corner around the outside edge of the package to prevent damage during transit.

Sometimes I'll recycle one of those expensive box mailer from a big label or vinyl club.

Drop needles, not bombs.