Noah Howard Group Berlin Concert

Trost Records proudly announces the latest release in its ongoing cooperation with Berlin'slegendary FMP label, with the long overdue reissue of two classic live albums by the singularalto saxophonist Noah Howard, a key figure in New York's free jazz revolution during the1960s. Berlin Concert was recorded live in the titular city in January of 1975 with a quartetfeaturing pianist Takashi Kako, bassist Kent Carter, drummer Oliver Johnson, and percussionistLamont Hampton, while Schizophrenic Blues was a quartet date taped live in Berlin in May of1977 with a quartet comprising Johnson, bassist Jean-Jacque Avenel, and trumpeter Itaru Oki.Both titles were released on the SAJ sub label in 1977 and 1978, respectively.These two albums deftly capture the full diapason of Howard's fiery art. Fueled by thepropulsive swing of the great Oliver Johnson, bassist Kent Carter_both Americans whospent many years living and working in Europe, including long stints with Steve Lacy_and percussionist Lamont Hampton, and Berlin Concert nonchalantly toggles betweenmodal workouts, where Japanese pianist Takashi Kako invokes the ironclad drive ofMcCoy Tyner, and the needling fury of "New York Subway," summoning the all-out furyof the 60s New Thing. The pianoless quartet Schizophrenic Blues casts the music in adifferent light, with the great Japanese trumpeter Itaru Oki serving as a worthy frontlinepartner for Howard's livewire alto sax. Johnson is back in the rhythm section along withanother Lacy disciple in the French bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel, who had alreadyformed a strong musical bond, a mind meld readily apparent in grooves both ferociouslyenergetic and contextually nimble. The leader reveals his curiosity by extending hisrepertoire to include an unexpected reading of "Bird of Beauty," a Stevie Wonder tunethat released a few years earlier on Fulfillingness' First Finale, while the albumconcludes with a rousing, soulful rendition of the "Lift Every Voice and Sing," knownfo...