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Lonnie Liston Smith: Jazz Is Dead 17
BySince Roy Ayers and Gary Bartz have also made contributions to the series, Smith assumed that there must be something of value, one way or another. What there is, really, is a flashback to the '70s, when a younger (if in existence) audience heard somewhat more inspired versions of what is on offer here. One will remember sneaking into a club or a party and hearing synthesizers, variously electronic, all enveloped in a haze of some sort. There may have been a vocalist as there is hereLoren Oden, whose talents may or may not have been employed to their fullest extent. In any event, the music, very different at the time, seemed portentous. For fans of the new Miles Davis and In a Silent Way (Columbia, 1969), the future beckoned. It was about atmospherics, and a kind of Putney Swope-ish, one way or another defiance, suitably garbed and coiffed. It was fun, really. This is that future, although it is fifty years later.
An experienced listener may be forgiven the feeling of having heard this song before. If it is new, it may be enticing. If not, it is what it is. Some of what it is is probably post-production shazam. How much was done in real time? How much of it was a surprise to Lonnie Liston Smith, on first hearing? Most of the tracks are relatively brief. But if jazz is dead, does it really matter? This is strictly for fans of the genre. Check back in another twenty five years to hear what, if anything, has changed..
Track Listing
Love Brings Happiness; Dawn; Cosmic Changes; Gratitude; Love Can Be; Fete; Kaleidoscope; What May Come; A New Spring.
Personnel
Additional Instrumentation
Lonnie Liston Smith: acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes; Adrian Younge: electric guitar, electric bass guitar, alto and sopranino saxophones, monophonic synthesizer, clavinet, vibraphone, percussion, Mellotron, flues, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3, acoustic guitar, auto-harp; Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Fender Rhodes, electric bass guitar; Loren Oden: vocals (1, 3, 5, 9); Greg Paul: drums (1-5); Malachi Morehead: drums (6-9).
Album information
Title: Jazz Is Dead 17 | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Jazz Is Dead
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About Lonnie Liston Smith
Instrument: Keyboards
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