Muse LPs: Woody Shaw and Joe Chambers

Two intriguing albums from 1975 and '77 are finally out on 180-gram vinyl

I last posted about the new Muse re-issue series spearheaded by producer Zev Feldman back in October. Three albums were released then on 180-gram vinyl—Kenny Barron’s Sunset to Dawn (1973); drummer Roy Brooks’s The Free Slave (1970), with trumpeter Woody Shaw and saxophonist George Coleman; and saxophonist Carlos Garnett’s Cosmos Nucleus (1976).

Now, add two more—Woody Shaw’s Love Dance and Joe Chambers’s Double Exposure. Both are quite extraordinary for different reasons.

As mentioned last time, the re-issues are part of producer Zev Feldman’s Time Traveler Recordings, which entered into an agreement to re-issue select Muse albums on 180-gram LPs.

Love Dance was the fourth studio album led by Shaw. It was recorded for Muse in November 1975 and included Woody Shaw (tp), Steve Turre (tb,b-tb), Rene McLean (sop,as), Billy Harper (ts), Joe Bonner (p), Cecil McBee (b), Victor Lewis (d), Guilherme Franco (perc) and Tony Waters (cga).

The music is simultaneously muscular and graceful as well as sizzling hot and frosty cool. The musicians were all heavyweights, and the approach was purely acoustic at a time when nearly everyone in jazz was plugging in their instrument to be with-it.

The tracks:

• Love Dance (Joe Bonner)

• Obsequious (Larry Young)

• Sunbath (Peggy Stern)

• Zoltan (Woody Shaw)

• Soulfully I Love You (Black Spiritual of Love) (Billy Harper)

This is one of Shaw’s finest leadership albums. The post-bop energy and playing are exceptional. And there’s no wheel-spinning or padding. The sweat-inducing power and drive result in music that’s all heart and meaningful.

Woody Shaw died in 1989 at age 44 of injuries suffered in a New York subway accident.

To buy, go here.

Here’s the superb title track…

Joe Chambers’s Double Exposure was his third studio release as a leader. On the LP recorded for Muse in November 1977, the pianist, drummer, vibraphonist and composer created an album that was adventurous, daring and grows on you with each listen. And there are just two musicians on the date—Chambers and keyboardist Larry Young.

Produced by Fred Siebert, the album has to be absorbed from start to finish. The tracks are linked emotionally like train cars. In addition to the spareness of just two artists, the instruments used on each track are quite exciting for the careful listener.

The tracks:

1. Hello to the Wind (Joe Chambers)

2. The Ogre (Larry Young)

3. Mind Rain (Joe Chambers)

4. After the Rain (Joe Chambers)

5. Message From Mars (Larry Young)

6. Rock Pile (Joe Chambers)

The personnel:

• Joe Chambers: piano (tracks 1–4), electric piano (track 2), tabla (track 2), cymbal (tracks 2 & 3) and drums (tracks 5 & 6)

• Larry Young: organ (tracks 1–3, 5 & 6), synthesizer (track 2)

Exciting music that doesn’t rush up to you with catchy melodies and harmony. Instead, you have to meet it halfway. I’m on my sixth listen and find it more and more fascinating with each go-round.

To buy, go here.

Here’s Mind Rain…