**250 copies, one-time pressing, sold-out at source.** The Los Angeles based pianist, band leader, and composer, Horace Tapscott, always stood apart from the pack. A true visionary who was fiercely principled and independent, across the 1960s, '70s, '80s, and '90s, leading his legendary Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, he produced a tour de force of sound, seeded by social, political, and community-based action. For the entirety of their run together, Tapscott and his Arkestra, which continues to this day, were among the most important groups working in the United States. They also remain among the most under-appreciated. Thankfully, the last few years has brought a number of reissues and archival releases by Tapscott, the Arkestra, and many of its members and associates like Linda Hill,Adele Sebastian, Jesse Sharps, Nate Morgan, Curtis Clark, and others, allowing the sprawling scope and astounding merit of their accomplishments to come into view for a broader audience. Now Nimbus West - the imprint founded in 1979 by Tom Albach to support Tapscott and the Arkestra’s activities, has just released “Live at I.U.C.C. 11/26/78”, the first in a series of eleven - yes, that much - double CDs documenting the complete Nimbus I.U.C.C. recordings. All volumes in the series will be one-time pressings of 250 copies, and this first volume is already sold-out at source. Hugely historically important, and an absolute marvel of sound, this is West Coast avant-garde and spiritual jazz at its absolute best. Jesse Sharps here is at the peak of his powers as Bandleader and Arranger, not to mention the playing.

Like Sun Ra, from whom he borrowed when naming his own Arkestra, and Kelan Phil Cohran working during the same period in Chicago, Taspcott showed deep dedication to the possibilities and inclusiveness presented by working in large ensembles. Attempting to remain as free from the restrictions of the white run music industry as they could, the Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra only began to document their efforts toward the end of the 1970s - always placing community work and political consciousness at the heart of the project, preferring to play in the street, parks and coffee houses, over traditional venues. “Live at I.U.C.C. 11/26/78” takes us into the heart of this remarkably fertile period and its incredible sounds and ideas. This is a side of the Arkestra that has not been properly heard - until now.

This 2CD set documents a never before issued recording of Horace Tapscott leading his legendary Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, in concert at the Immanuel United Church of Christ - November 26th, 1978. This is the first time that Nimbus West founder Tom Albach had attempted to capture the Arkestra in their own environment and boy is it a doozy! About as raw and deep as it gets, and easily one of the most beautiful, striking, and historically important records of the year, it’s a joyous explosion of sound, seeded by social, political, and community-based action, at the juncture of spiritual and free jazz.

During 2023, Nimbus West will release a total of eleven double CDs, one for each recorded performance. Under no circumstances should you miss this first volume, which is published in only 250 copies and is already sold-out at the source. This is the start of an incredible series, the stuff of which all spiritual and free jazz fans' dreams are made of!