*2025 stock, Japanese reissue!* Tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan was born in Chicago in 1931 and continued to express the essence of hard bop until his death in March 1993. Released in 1974 on the same prestigious Strata-East label as the spiritual jazz classic In The World, this album features the pianist Stanley Cowell, one of the founders of Strata-East, as well as the father of film director Spike Lee. Bassist Bill Lee (who passed away last month at the age of 94). Recorded with a host of musicians, including pianist Stanley Cowell and bassist Bill Lee (who passed away last month at the age of 94), this is a masterpiece of spiritual jazz and hard bop that has been hailed alongside In The World as a masterpiece of the genre!
The album is a masterpiece that is considered alongside ‘In The World’ as a masterpiece of spiritual jazz and hard bop, with a fervent brooding ‘Powerful PaulRobeson’ (A1) from Jordan's own pen, ‘Cal Massey’ (M4), with its comfortable interplay with Stanley Cowell's driving piano and the gradually rising tension that begins with Bill Lee's bass line, is a masterpiece that shocks the heart. The album is packed full of highlights such as ‘John Coltrane’ (M5), which starts with Bill Lee's bassline and gradually builds up to a heart-wrenching tension!