Angels

Although not his best work, this lovely duet of Ayler and Call Cobbs performing "Angels" is a true delight. As someone deeply imbued in gospel, blues, and and "roots" of African American music, Ayler's spiritually-charged "Angels" is nothing but delight for nine minutes. The recording from the Hilversum Session is also excellent, featuring an entire band.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting and Space Loneliness

"Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" is the epitome of that ineffable quality of Afro-American music and experience. The funky, earthiness, blues-inflected wails and gospel tradition, and soul-soothing moments of utter joy and celebration of the Creator keeps this song together. Mingus, a product of the Black Church and the blues, returned to his 'roots' on this album and succeeded. Indeed, I recall reading in a biography of Mingus that on one occasion his 'blackness' was called into question by a dark-skinned musician. Mingus played the most downhome blues the brother had ever heard and nobody could deny that Mingus, part black, part white, and part yellow, could keep it soulful and funky like the best. I ain't into essentializing blackness, but Mingus brought it. 

In addition to Mingus, my Wednesday evening has also brought back memories of early Sun Ra. His pre-synth music is actually among my favorite jazz, particularly the Chicago years. Sure, the music is more conventional and less 'edgy,' but it's far more listenable (no offense to free jazz!) and just as meaningful. Listen to "Springtime in Chicago" and tell me that don't make you nostalgic for Chicago or just a beautiful, simple day? But my jam tonight is "Space Loneliness," a blues expressing solitude with an undercurrent of joy. In fact, the blues is just as much about expressing joy as sorrow or melancholy. 

With the numerous wails of John Gilmore's saxophone (he influenced Coltrane yet got little recognition), the funeral march-like tempo, and bluesy head, "Space Loneliness" feels like a whiff of fresh air in a stale room occupied by a solitary figure. Thus, to me there is perhaps some hinting at possible joy in the debilitating state of depression and loneliness. Indeed, perhaps the 'space' or science fiction part of the title aptly describes the kind of solitude we all experience at one point in our lives, feeling like objects in space without intersecting. 

Odetta's Take This Hammer

Legendary folk singer Odetta was part of the American folk revival in the 1950s before the white boys, and is accompanied on this beautiful song by Spike Lee's father, Bill Lee, on bass. Odetta has classical training which imbues her interpretation of American folk, blues, gospel and spirituals, as well as an interesting, self-taught approach to the acoustic guitar. Bill Lee would go on to write music for Spike Lee's early films and be active in the jazz scene. Indeed, if I remember correctly, New York Times covered some story about how the long-established tradition of Lee holding jam sessions in his home has been challenged by some neighbors claiming he is too loud! Anyway, it's quite beautiful to hear the wonderful interaction between Lee and Odetta, particularly since his bass on rhythm frees her guitar to play a secondary effect with her mesmerizing vocals. "Take This Hammer" is astounding with this treatment. Likewise, "Timber" sounds phenomenal with the soaring melismas of Odetta and a solid foundation from Lee and her guitar. "Timber, timber..."

Black Christ of the Andes: Mary Lou Williams' "Praise the Lord"

Perhaps my favorite gospel-jazz piece (sorry, Charles Mingus!), "Praise the  Lord" is a triumphal jam session meets revival meeting, even with the prayers and exhortations to God that show up all over the place. The funky, swinging piece, featuring wailing sax, propulsive rhythm, and eerily humming back-up vocals, is the best kind of church music I've ever heard. For some reason, Williams, a Catholic convert when she recorded this album in tribute to a black Catholic saint, Martin de Porres, keeps herself rooted in Black, non-Catholic church music with this number. As someone who had the fortune of seeing a presentation by a Catholic priest who knew Mary Lou Williams personally, I learned of her important role in the evolution of swing and bop in jazz, as well as her spiritual convictions and conversion to Catholicism (see my review of the event here). Williams, whose apartment in New York was popular for other, mostly male, jazz instrumentalists, was a teacher, innovator, composer, and perhaps the most prominent female instrumentalist in jazz history, save Nina Simone's mean piano skills. Truly a great composer and pianist, her suites, such as the exploratory Zodiac Suite, also follow the jazz tradition of paying homage to earlier innovators and artists, being dedicated to various contemporary jazz artists of her time. Likewise, Black Christ of the Andes celebrates the life of an African-descended saint of the Andes, thereby linking her conversion to Catholicism to Black history and her own African-American roots. The rest of the album is not bad, either, the standout being her rendition of "It Ain't Necessarily So" in a trio setting. In some ways, her tribute also represents Afrocentric and broader pan-Africanist sensibilities, using the words "Black Christ," suggestively stating the importance of Africa and African-descended people in Christianity. Keep on clapping your hands in heaven, Mary Lou Williams, this is beautiful music.

Just a Closer Walk With Thee

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
I am weak, but Thou art strong,
Jesus, keep me from all wrong,
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more,
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom's shore, to Thy shore

One of my favorite gospel songs, of unknown Southern African-American origins, is "Just a Closer Walk With Thee." The beautiful, simple melody and its long history in the black gospel and jazz traditions make it an obvious favorite by someone like me. I especially like Sister Rosetta Tharpe's bluesy rendition, recorded in 1941.

Grant Green recorded a jazz version of the tune for an album of spirituals, Feelin' the Spirit. Featuring Green on guitar and Herbie Hancock, as well as drummer Billy Higgins, their instrumental version of one of gospel's greatest tunes is success. Hancock does not solo as much as Green, but the clean guitar sound works well with the song's simple melody. It's always a pleasure to hear jazz musicians play spirituals or gospel music, especially when some of the best jazz songs are really gospel numbers.

Mahalia Jackson sings the song very well in this video. "Daily walking close to Thee, oh, let it be, dear Lord, let it be."

Here's a good gospel version by the Five Blind Boys of Alabama

Here's a scene from a show I should be watching, Treme, that shows a New Orleans jazz funeral with the melody of "Just a Closer Walk With Thee"

Best of Sister Rosetta Tharpe

1. Beams of Heaven http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq6jRW2lPNA

2. My Journey to the Sky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIGqTMRQ3gA

3. This Train http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gFfCAjsfXA

4. Just a Closer Walk With Thee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xjh0e5WDVQ

5. Down By the Riverside http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xzr_GBa8qk

6. Up Above My Head http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFe-B2v_Yk8

7. Didn't It Rain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0tnh0xeDzw

8. How Old Are You? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01yBt60u8NQ&feature=related

9. Shout, Sister, Shout http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVXJAGrl3AU\

10. Strange Things Happening Everyday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9beFIankmBY

11. Rock Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjYBb51gXsI&feature=related

12. This Little Light of Mine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDN-4Ryo0Cw&feature=related

13. Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVTthSWOmuI&feature=related

14. Stand the Storm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxDPICGVrtk&feature=related

15. When I First Sought the Lord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-_B51ACv5Y&feature=related

16. Calvary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_guAbhRdBRo&feature=related

17. How Far From God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYjD8kDB8wU&feature=related

18. How About You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRPDebKwBiI&feature=related

19. You Got to Move http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8y7UwBufog&feature=related

20. Savior, Don't Pass Me By http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEhJLKTaAZI&feature=related

21. Sit Down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJhgmtM3tOo&feature=related

22. Were You There When They Crucified My Lord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN9C05EgHKY&feature=related

23. Stand By Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njp9krsh5JI&feature=related

24. Don't Take Everybody To Be Your Friend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc95CGeR6wc&feature=related

25. I'll Fly Away http://grooveshark.com/s/Fly+Away/2IxHwh?src=5

26. Nobody's Fault But Mine http://grooveshark.com/s/Nobody+s+Fault+But+Mine/3puKBK?src=5

27. Jonah http://grooveshark.com/s/Jonah/2IF5RI?src=5

28. All Over This World http://grooveshark.com/s/All+Over+This+World/2IncNK?src=5

29. Precious Lord, Take My Hand http://grooveshark.com/s/Precious+Lord+Hold+My+Hand/2IEZgG?src=5

30. Jesus Is Here Today http://grooveshark.com/s/Jesus+Is+Here+Today/2IsQQ5?src=5

31. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen http://grooveshark.com/s/Nobody+Knows+The+Trouble+I+ve+Seen/49OD0d?src=5

32. Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down http://grooveshark.com/s/Can+t+No+Grave+Hold+My+Body+Down/3UodG7?src=5

33. Amazing Grace http://grooveshark.com/s/Amazing+Grace/3KvwVW?src=5

34. Crying in the Chapel http://grooveshark.com/s/Crying+In+The+Chapel/3Kvv6f?src=5

35. What a Friend We Have in Jesus http://grooveshark.com/s/What+A+Friend+We+Have+In+Jesus/3KvxpR?src=5

Go, Tell It On the Mountain

One of my favorite spirituals and Christmas songs of any genre, "Go, Tell It On the Mountain" dates back to the 19th century. The lyrics of the original song celebrate the birth of Christ, but during the 1960s folk musicians changed the lyrics to refer to Exodus, thereby connecting the struggle of the Israelites to African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. Furthermore, according to a little research on Wikipedia, the song was only compiled in the early 20th century by an African-American folklorist who collected Negro spirituals and folk music, John Wesley Work, Jr. So the origins of the song are still unknown...it's possible that it may not date back to the slave era.

Here is an interesting version of the song performed by a singer playing guitar. His vocals aren't great, but this guy videotapes himself playing different folk songs.

Peter Tosh and the Wailers performed a reggae-tinged "Go, Tell It On the Mountain" that uses some of the Civil Rights and Exodus references of the Peter, Paul and Mary version. Interesting to hear this old song with a reggae beat, right?

Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson also recorded the song, accompanied by a small choir and organ. Her version is the most beautiful I have heard, and probably closer to the original spirit of the song. She sings the traditional lyrics, which obviously refer to the birth of Christ.

Simon and Garfunkel also recorded the song on their not-so-good first album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M. It's funny to hear Jewish boys singing a Negro spiritual about the birth of Christ, but unfortunately that alone doesn't make it an essential version of the song. I believe both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel are singing here, and if I remember correctly, Spike Lee's father, jazz bassist Bill Lee, played bass on this record. Spike's father also played with Odetta and Bob Dylan, so he wasn't above working with folk singers. Interesting fact, right?

Here is the progressive, Civil Rights version of the song. Using lyrics from "Go Down Moses" (another Negro spiritual alluding to Exodus), Peter, Paul and Mary are connecting the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s to Exodus. Of course they were not the first to make that connection, since African-Americans have identified themselves and their struggles with Biblical references since slavery days.

The Blind Boys of Alabama also recorded a good version of the song that uses more R&B and gospel influences.

Spirituals and Gospel

I love me some gospel and Negro spirituals. Here is a long list of some of my favorite Gospel tunes.

Marvin Sapp's Never Would've Made It is a contemporary gospel masterpiece.

The Wailers recorded a couple of spirituals and gospel tunes as well. I really like their versions of Amen, Sinner Man, and This Train.

Let the Lord Be Seen in Me is a great gospel ballad. Jamaican interpretations of American gospel, spirituals, and R&B are fascinating and essential for understanding the evolution of ska, reggae and rocksteady.

Wings of a Dove is another interesting gospel/spiritual interpretation from Bob Marley and the Wailers

Tell Them Lord is a ska tune with Christian lyrics

This gospel tune was the inspiration for Ray Charles' I've Got a Woman, which was sampled by Kanye West for his hit, Gold Digger.

I'll Fly Away is another gospel fav of mine and one of Kanye's best moments on his first album.

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? is one of the greatest spirituals. I first heard it during Easter season at Catholic mass in my youth. Robeson also has such an amazingly deep voice that captures the melancholy of this spiritual. Check out his Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child as well.

Oh Happy Day is a classic

Mahalia Jackson is a phenomenal gospel singer and her rendition of Amazing Grace is required gospel listening

Take My Hand, Precious Lord is a gospel standard composed by Thomas A. Dorsey, the 'father of gospel.' He brought blues and jazz influences into gospel. Jim Reeves was a country singer whose rendition of the song I find interesting.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was known for her guitar and singing skills. And she really knew how to play the blues and swing (some accused her of playing 'devil's music' because she always played in a bluesy or jazz-influenced manner)

Down by the Riverside is a classic

Up Above My Head

Another great Sister Rosetta Tharpe song, a duet

This Train

Classic gospel-blues

Peace in the Valley was composed by Thomas A. Dorsey, the aforementioned blues pianist who became the 'father of black gospel'

Jesus Gave me Water

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Oh, Freedom

That's Heaven to Me

Nina Simone's legendary recording of Sinnerman

First recording of Sinner Man by Les Baxter

Classic Gospel song

No More Auction Block For Me

Summertime is not a spiritual but Gershwin was trying to write a song that sounds like African American folk music so I'll include Robeson's version of summertime

Robeson's version of Amazing Grace. What a voice!

Somebody's Knockin' At Your Door. I first heard this in a Catholic church in Wisconsin. I never new it was a Negro spiritual