For Peace and Liberty (In Paris, December 1972) cover

For Peace and Liberty (In Paris, December 1972)

Recorded
Released

At the beginning of their sojourn in France, the members of the Black Artists Group — saxophonist Oliver Lake, trombonist Joseph Bowie, trumpeters Baikida Carroll and Floyd LeFlore, and drummer Charles “Bobo” Shaw — performed for French radio broadcaster ORTF. The tapes then disappeared for roughly 50 years, before finally reemerging in 2024. The single, six-movement piece begins with most if not all of the group playing percussion, creating a huge African-influenced wave of rhythm that crashes, rolls back, then thunders forward again before the horns come blaring in like taxis driven by madmen. Squalling free jazz solos are interrupted by whistles and other disruptions, giving the piece a very Art Ensemble of Chicago feel, but with more funk in the drums. The third movement is a long, meditative interlude; there are some beautiful harmonies in the fifth; and it all ends with a militaristic drum barrage, before the audience erupts in wild applause.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Heaven and Earth cover

Heaven and Earth

Kamasi Washington
EthioBraz cover

EthioBraz

Large Unit
Dark Day cover

Dark Day

Fred Anderson Quartet
Live in Vilnius cover

Live in Vilnius

David S. Ware Quartet
Gwotet cover

Gwotet

David Murray, The Gwo-Ka Masters, Pharoah Sanders
Birdland, Neuburg 2011 cover

Birdland, Neuburg 2011

Cecil Taylor, Tony Oxley
Aliseen cover

Aliseen

Kaski, Jorma Tapio
Continuation cover

Continuation

Collocutor