BGP / Flying Dutchman Organic Grooves 12 Items

John Carter / Bobby Bradford

Release: 1971 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Gil Scott-Heron’s “Pieces Of A Man” is one of the most important albums in the history of black American music. Although it didn’t set the charts alight, it stands as a masterpiece alongside contemporary works such as Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”, Curtis Mayfield’s debut LP, Funkadelic's “Maggot Brain” and Isaac Hayes’ “Shaft”. All were brilliant in their way, but lyrically Scott-Heron was on a different level from almost every other writer. It was a landmark album with its bold, poetic lyrical content allied to progressive and melodic music, and it saw producer Bob Thiele help Gil and his musical partner Brian Jackson paint the picture they needed to get their message across. Thiele put Gil and Brian together with Ron Carter, Hubert Laws and Bernard Purdie, giving them the musical heft they wanted. For many years the focus was on ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’, which was included in the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2014, but this focus sometimes overshadowed the heights which Gil reached throughout the album. Today ‘Home Is Where The Hatred Is’ and ‘Lady Day And John Coltrane’ are also considered standards, whilst the album’s title track is a prescient and heart-breaking warning about the way in which big business dehumanises its workers. The album reached its landmark 50th year in 2021 and we decided that we would create this special edition to celebrate its incredible sound. The original master tape was taken to Frank Merritt at The Carvery in London, who cut it as a double disc 2 x 45 RPM record, in an all-analogue chain. The original record - especially side two - was long, and serving it up this way allowed the music a greater level of fidelity. The release is packaged in the original album’s gatefold sleeve.

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Self Determination Music

LP | 1971 | UK | Reissue (BGP / Flying Dutchman)

This Is Flying Dutchman 1969-1975

Release: 1971 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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The John Carter and Bobby Bradford Quartet/Quintet were critical to the progressive jazz movement around Los Angeles in the late 60s alongside the likes of Horace Tapscott. Both hailed from the Watts area and trumpeter, Bradford played with a woodshedding Ornette Coleman for two years in the early 60s when the legendary free movement leader decided not to record for a while but wanted to hone his trademark sound on the saxophone. Multi-reed player, Carter also worked with Coleman who brought them together to lead their own band.

Their first outing on Flying Dutchman was “Flight For Four” as the Carter Bradford Quartet that was released in 1969. This is the second album they recorded where Carter and Bradford were supported by Tom Williamson (bass), Buzz Freeman (drums) and another uncredited bass player on four extended improvisations – ‘The Sunday Afternoon Jazz Blues Society’, ‘The Eye Of The Storm’, ‘Loneliness’ and ‘Encounter’.

The album has been out of print on vinyl since 1971 and Ace are delighted to release it with audio taken from hi-res digital transfers from the original masters.

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V.A.

2LP | 2023 | UK | Original (BGP / Flying Dutchman)

24,99 €*

Black,Brown And Beautiful

Release: 2023 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Bob Thiele is one of the great producers. For his work with John Coltrane alone, where he gave free reign to the saxophone great's wildest musical visions including “A Love Supreme”, ignoring the usual cost consciousness of a major label, he deserves to be lauded. In addition to this, his eight years at Impulse! saw him recording seminal works by scores of musicians including late-blooming masterpieces by Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges, and a whole wave of 'new thing' jazzers such as Archie Shepp and Pharoah Sanders. He didn't stop there and when he launched his own label, Flying Dutchman in 1969, he continued to innovate and record music that reflected its times, but that also resonates down through the ages. It is to Flying Dutchman that we are paying tribute on this compilation.

Gil Scott-Heron's recordings for the label ran to three records, which sold well but not spectacularly at the time. They have since taken on a resonance that makes the album "Pieces Of A Man" in particular one of the most important recordings of the last century, and its opening track 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised' an anthem. Pianist Lonnie Liston Smith had been on Thiele's final important Impulse! Recording, Pharoah Sanders’ "Karma", and continued to appear on Flying Dutchman, first as a sideman and then as a leader. His 1975 album "Expansions" was the perfect encapsulation of his 'cosmic jazz' and the title track is a moment of near perfection which has become one of the foundation pieces of modern dance music.

Flying Dutchman's other great discoveries are here. Vocalist Leon Thomas found a new route for jazz vocals in the early 70s, which made him a star and earned him a place in Santana. Gato Barbieri became one of the major saxophone stars of the era, after Thiele enabled him to meld his free jazz leanings to the rhythms of South America. The label also made important recordings with Tom Scott (featured on Thiele's own 'Head Start'), Ornette Coleman and Oliver Nelson, whilst interesting records appeared by Esther Marrow, Harold Alexander and many more.

This is Flying Dutchman is a considered tribute to the label, and features in depth and fully illustrated sleeve notes. In the year when Bob Thiele's son is gearing up to release the first new music on the label since 1976, it is an apt and timely reminder of the power of the music.

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Oliver Nelson

24,99 €*

Pieces Of A Man / I Think I'll Call It Morning

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Originally released in 1970, “Black, Brown and Beautiful” saw legendary composer and arranger Oliver Nelson musically address the state of black America in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King. Tracks like ‘Requiem’, ‘Lamb Of God’ and ‘Martin Was A Man, A Real Man’ directly address the passing of King, whereas ‘Self Help Is Needed’ and ‘I Hope In Time A Change Will Come’ orchestrally and passionately ask questions that still remain unanswered today. Indeed, Nelson, writing about the track ‘Self Help Is Needed’ stated “I have always felt that the Federal Government wasn’t going to do a damn thing and American Blacks were going to have to do it themselves. However, you can’t have a foot on your neck making it impossible for you to help yourself. That seems logical – doesn’t it?” Sadly, those words still hold true today.

Musically, this is a sumptuous, almost big band, banquet with Nelson himself talking the soprano sax solo on the aching ‘I Hope In Time A Change Will Come’. Those who are fans of classic Nelson albums like “The Blues And The Abstract Truth” (1961) and the equally polemical “The Mayor And The People” (1971) will find much to enjoy here.

This reissue replicates the original high-quality gatefold sleeve of the original and is pressed on 180gm vinyl.

“Black, Brown And Beautiful” has never been reissued on vinyl since the original 1970 US pressing.

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Gil Scott-Heron

7" | 2022 | UK | Original (BGP / Flying Dutchman)

11,99 €*

LP | 1977 | UK | Reissue (BGP / Flying Dutchman)

Release: 2022 / UK – Original

Genre: Organic Grooves

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As part of our continued celebration of Gil Scott-Heron's essential recording "Pieces Of A Man", BGP is releasing two of its most poignant and poetic tracks as a 7-inch single.

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Lonnie Liston Smith

Live!

30,99 €*

Release: 1977 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Lonnie Liston Smith cut his teeth as a sideman with legendary bandleaders like Art Blakey, Pharoah Sanders and Miles Davis. He first appeared on a Flying Dutchman LP when he played piano on the Leon Thomas album “Spirits Known And Unknown.” from 1969. Bob Thiele later signed Smith and his debut LP “Astral Travelling” under the banner of Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes was released in 1973. This blend of jazz funk quickly found an audience that led to the follow-up “Cosmic Funk” in 1974. The seminal “Expansions” followed in 1975 which took Smith’s music to a wider audience and is now considered as a stone cold classic.

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Esther Marrow

Newport News, Virginia

16,99 €*

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Used Vinyl

Medium: Sealed, Cover: VG+

Sealed copy with small stuffed / bent corner!

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Ornette Coleman

Friends And Neighbors

Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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This is an unusual album in the catalogue of Ornette Coleman, and one that passes by most critics. It is however a unique insight into the ‘free jazz’ pioneer’s way of working in the early 70s. Recorded at his large loft space in downtown New York which inspired a whole scene of experimental musicians who were locked out of playing established venues.

The music is a romp showing Ornette playing trumpet as well as saxophone. His quartet which featured second saxophonist Dewey Redman alongside long term cohorts Ed Blackwell and Charlie Haden prove to be the perfect foil for this legendary set.

This is the first vinyl reissue in nearly 20 years and utilises a fresh 24/96 transfer from the original production master.

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Renaissance

LP | 1976 | UK | Reissue (BGP / Flying Dutchman)

23,99 €*

Jon Appleton & Don Cherry

Release: 1976 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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After the success of “Expansions” (1975) Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes were riding high, with Lonnie at the height of his creative powers. Two more albums followed on Flying Dutchman before changes at RCA meant that it was decided that the next album would be released on the parent label. As such, the final Cosmic Echoes album on RCA was neglected and has remained out of print on vinyl since its original release back in 1976.

Produced by Bob Thiele and Lonnie, this album we now restore this to its position in the Flying Dutchman catalogue on this vinyl reissue.

A masterpiece of cosmic jazz funk “Renaissance” includes the reflective ‘Between Here And There’, the jazz dance classic ‘Mardi Gras (Carnival)’ and the sensational ‘Space Lady’.

180g black vinyl in replica gatefold sleeve.

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Human Music

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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A forward thinking collaboration between electronic music pioneer Jon Appleton and trumpet great Don Cherry, that explores the relationship between the humanity and the manufactured robotic future.

Using the techniques associated with Musique Concrete the ensuing improvisations create a unique entry into the great trumpeter's discography. It was an in vogue attempt to render the music of tomorrow, and today sounds more like the soundtrack to a truly great sci-fi movie

Reissued in a fascimile of the original gatefold sleeve, and remastered from new 24/96 transfers, this is part of Ace's HiQ LP series

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Esther Marrow

Newport News, Virginia

22,99 €*

Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes

Release: 1970 / UK – Reissue

Genre: Organic Grooves

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Esther Marrow began singing professionally in the early 60s. Her big break came in 1965 when she was asked by Duke Ellington to take part in his ground-breaking Concert of Sacred Music at the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Marrow toured with the Duke Ellington Band as well as Harry Belafonte and came to the attention of Bob Thiele who recorded and released this debut album on his Flying Dutchman label in 1969.

Musically, it’s a compelling mix of funk and soul, occupying similar terrain to Alice Clark’s great album that was released on Mainstream in 1972. For example, Jesse Stone’s ‘Money Honey’ is given a crunching funk arrangement and is one of three tracks that tempt collectors to pay big money for an original copy; ‘Walk Tall’ and ‘Chains Of Love’ are the other two. ‘Chains Of Love’ was originally recorded in Detroit by J.J. Barnes and became a Northern Soul classic. ‘Walk Tall’ is one of the album’s highlights and features music originally written by pianist Joe Zawinul and performed by Cannonball Adderley, with lyrics by James Rein and Morrow. It has become something of a jazz standard, but no version ever bettered this original track.

Add to the mix the lush string driven power of ‘Peaceful Man’, ‘Mama’ and a tilt at the classic ‘What A Wonderful World’ and you have a truly wonderful album.

Pressed on 180gm vinyl, we have remained faithful to the original pressing replicating the Flying Dutchman label style and gatefold sleeve.

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Astral Travelling

LP | 1973 | UK | Reissue (BGP / Flying Dutchman)