Doug & Jean Carn - Spirit Of The New Land

[mjzee]

Release date August 28:

Of all the artists who recorded for the Black Jazz label, keyboardist and composer Doug Carn was the most prolific, releasing four albums for the imprint. 1972's Spirit of the New Land was his second Black Jazz release, but the first one (of two) to co-feature his wife, vocalist Jean Carn, in the album title; we've chosen to lead with this record from Carn's catalog not only because it's the most collectible of the bunch, but also because it showcases his innovative approach of adding lyrics to jazz standards. Thus, both Miles Davis' 'Blue in Green' and Lee Morgan's 'Search for the New Land' are blessed with spellbinding vocals from Jean Carn set to her husband's words, while Doug Carn originals like 'Arise and Shine' and 'My Spirit' soar with spiritual fervor on the wings of his wife's five-octave range. Along for the ride are a stellar cast of players, including trumpeter Charles Tolliver, co-founder of the Strata-East label; saxophonist George Harper, who played with Herbie Hancock and Jimmy Smith among others; trombonist Garnett Brown, who appears on albums by Roland Kirk, Albert Ayler, and Art Blakey among his hundreds of album credits; tuba player Earl McIntyre, whose discography spans from Carla Bley to the Band; and drummer Alphonse Mouzon, founding member of Weather Report. Produced for reissue by Real Gone's own Gordon Anderson and noted jazz archivist Zev Feldman, and remastered by Mike Milchner at Sonic Vision, this beautiful, uplifting album comes with a special surprise: liner notes by Pat Thomas, author of Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975, that feature excerpts from a freewheeling interview recently conducted with Doug Carn himself!

[HutchFan]

Very nice.  Thanks for the heads-up, mjzee.   

[JSngry]

I can't buy this yet again, but anybody who doesn't have it, probably should. Pretty much a classic, and deservedly so.

[felser]

5 minutes ago, JSngry said:

anybody who doesn't have it, probably should. Pretty much a classic, and deservedly so.

+ 1

[BFrank]

Is this a vinyl or CD release ... or both? I have a 1999 BJ release on CD.

I'll ask Pat Thomas for more info.

[jazzbo]

I've found this one, the Bishop Jr. and The Awakening offered as CDs for pre-order on amazon.

[mikeweil]

I bought a lot of Black Jazz LPs back then, still have most of them, including all four of the Carn family. Excellent music.

[Stonewall15]

A Doug Carn LP was issued in 1969 on Savoy label- "The Doug Carn Trio". Has been re-issued on CD.

[felser]

11 minutes ago, Stonewall15 said:

A Doug Carn LP was issued in 1969 on Savoy label- "The Doug Carn Trio". Has been re-issued on CD.

I've never heard it, looks to be standard organ trio fare from the Discogs listing:

Tracklist

A1	Walk Right In
A2	Butter From The Duck
A3	My One And Only Love
B1	Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
B2	Free Blues
B3	Yna Yna's Delight

Credits

• Drums – Albert Nicholson
• Guitar – Gary Starling
• Organ – Doug Carn

[JSngry]

It is standard organ fare, but very good standard organ fare. Definitely worth checking out if you're a fan. I got it from Red Trumpet back in the day when they were still a thing.

[Bluesnik]

17 hours ago, JSngry said:

I can't buy this yet again, but anybody who doesn't have it, probably should. Pretty much a classic, and deservedly so.

I've got this as an mp3, so i'll probably buy it, if there is a CD.

17 hours ago, mjzee said:

and noted jazz archivist Zev Feldman,

I hadn't read this. So will it be a Resonance release?

[jazzbo]

No, Real Gone Music.

[bertrand]

Is Tolliver prominent on this or is it a guest appearance? Does he solo on the Lee Morgan piece?

[JSngry]

 

[BFrank]

I asked Pat Thomas (who is writing the liners) about this and he said that they are going to release the entire Black Jazz catalog. They're starting with the Carn albums and will release a few at a time until everything is out. It's vinyl only, with a possibility of a best of compilation plus rarities on a double CD somewhere down the line.

Not sure what label is doing this, or if they licensed or acquired Black Jazz.

[jazzbo]

That's interesting. . . this Carn and two others are available for preorder right now on amazon on both vinyl AND cd, so it appears that the information about "vinyl only" is not correct. The label is Real Gone Music.

[Pim]

Is that real gone music label any good? Soundwise?

[felser]

1 hour ago, Pim said:

Is that real gone music label any good? Soundwise?

Yes they are fine.  Very conscientious label.

[Bluesnik]

3 hours ago, Pim said:

Is that real gone music label any good? Soundwise?

That's the same thoughts/questions I'm harboring right now.

Edited July 3, 2020 by Bluesnik

[kh1958]

Real Gone Music put out the recent Alice Coltrane Warner compilation Spiritual Eternal, which was well done.

They also jointly released the Cannonball Adderley albums, The Price You Pay to Be Free and Music You All, with Dusty Groove.

And they put out Herbie Mann, Live at the Whiskey, 1969.

All are high quality releases.

 

[JSngry]

They do good work.

[Pim]

Ok thanks guys. I think I was mixing up with some EU public domain label with a similar name I guess...

[HutchFan]

20 minutes ago, Pim said:

Ok thanks guys. I think I was mixing up with some EU public domain label with a similar name I guess...

Yep, that's confused me before too.    Real Gone Music = Quality.   Real Gone = PD junk.

 

[BFrank]

9 hours ago, jazzbo said:

That's interesting. . . this Carn and two others are available for preorder right now on amazon on both vinyl AND cd, so it appears that the information about "vinyl only" is not correct. The label is Real Gone Music.

That IS interesting. Here's what he texted me: "We’re reissuing every Black Jazz album ever made on vinyl LPs!  (No CD version)". I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I already have earlier CD releases of 3 of his albums, so I'm not sure I would need new copies of Infant Eyes, Spirit of the New Land and Adam's Apple, anyway.

[Bluesnik]

1 hour ago, kh1958 said:

All are high quality releases.

 

1 hour ago, JSngry said:

They do good work.

Thanks. That's the kind of input I needed.