AkLaff, Pheeroan - House of Spirit: Mirth

SKU 05-US 036
I've long known the great drummer Pheeroan AkLaaf for his work with Anthony Davis' mind-blowingly great Episteme group in the 80s, as well as many other ensembles and projects of 30 years ago and more recent ones as well, and now with Wadada Leo Smith in the Golden Quartet and Organic. This is his first album as a leader and it's one that I didn't even know existed until this reissue!

"Drummer and composer Pheeroan AkLaff's House of Spirit:Mirth featured in Soul Jazz Record's recent revolutionary jazz covers book compiled by Gilles Peterson and Stuart Baker (Soul Jazz Records). This album was originally released in 1979 on the composer Oliver Lake's bespoke private-press label Passin Thru' Inc., a not for profit label 'dedicated to fostering, promoting and advancing the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the arts.' Consequently House of Spirit remains one of the most elusive deep jazz releases of its time to collectors. Aklaff was an original of the Detroit jazz scene of the early 70s alongside musicians of the Tribe (Wendell Harrison, Phil Ranelin, Doug Hammond) and Strata collective (Kenny Cox and Charles Moore) and local luminaries such as Travis Biggs before moving to New York in the mid-1970s to work at the centre of the vibrant loft/radical jazz scene. Here he worked and recorded with original greats such as Oliver Lake, Wadada Leo Smith, Anthony Davis (with numerous releases on India Navigation and other radical NY avant-jazz labels). At this time Coltrane drummer Rashied Ali became mentor to AkLaff , with Aklaff practically living at Ali's legendary club/live space 'Ali's Alley'. House of Spirit: Mirth is one of the most radical of deep jazz releases of its time. Avant-garde beyond a doubt but with an Afro-centric rhythmical intensity hard to find in the myriad of independent free/loft jazz recorded in New York at the time. This bespoke perfect replica reissue comes in a limited edition hardback box-case CD edition.



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  • LabelUniversal Sound
Your Price $24.00
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