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Hotter than the Fourth of July
9 Jul2008
CARNAVALITO
TUPAC AMARU
Gato Barbieri
Fenix
Flying Dutchman : 1971
GB, tenor sax, flute; Lonnie Liston Smith, keyboards; Joe Beck, guitar; Ron Carter, bass; Nana Vasconcelos, percussion, conga, berimbau; Lenny White III, drums.
While Gato Barbieri’s Fenix is a fine example of rhythmic free jazz, we’ve mostly been spinning this platter because its best tracks have a lazy, sticky, summer vibe. These tunes wouldn’t sound out of place on mix alongside some vintage Fania fare. And while you wouldn’t mistake this for, say, Siembra, the songs still evoke those mythical July weekends where music sounds best while sitting on the stoop and listening to it blast from a nearby car stereo. They’re hot like that.
“Carnavalito” finds Barbieri transitioning from avant firebrand to kozmigroov shaman. Against a steady barage of Afro-Brazilian percussion and a hypnotic piano vamp, Gato’s sax pounds through some insistent rhythms before unleashing several sustained bursts of his trademark paint-peeling wail. Dig how the nuanced screeches are juxtaposed against a rhythm section so solid that you could keep dancing without spilling your drink. It’s spiritual jazz reminiscent of Alice Coltrane’s early solo joints, but friskier.
“Tupac Amaru” (different Tupac, yo) sports a mellow funky feel. Best listened to in the early evening as the sun is starting to fade in the sky like a 40 watt bulb. Lonnie Liston Smith’s cascading synth lines add some subtly freaky textures while Gato slowly turns the heat up to simmer. He slowly builds the tension, escalating the song almost to the point of fever pitch but not quite. While parts of this tune may hint at Gato’s later de-evolution into romantic schmaltz, it always stays on the right side of the line. Welcome to the free jazz/soft rock axis. But more on that another time.
- In: Gato Barbieri
7 Responses to Hotter than the Fourth of July
jbull49
July 9th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Lovely idea for these hot days. Thanks–and for all the others (I’ve found many, many super albums, from “Dogon A.D.” to Kaoru Abe blasts, thanks to your postings). I can happily recommend that anyone who likes these Gato tracks should check out his early stuff (up to “Latino America”) and the albums he made with Don Cherry in the mid-1960s.
Cheers,
JBull
John in England
July 9th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
July 4 2008 — RIP Thomas M Disch, who was one of my favourite ‘New Worlds’ writers in the early 1970s (and who had no specific associations with this music until you posted it on the day I read his obituary). On the music, I can see why you put in a reference to Alice Coltrane, but for me the strongest affinity is with Pharoah Sanders.
Seeing JBull’s mention of ‘Dogon AD’, I have to ask whether you will be taking requests for summer re-ups this year, because that is currently top of my wish list (having just bought and enjoyed the CD of ‘Coon Bid’ness’.
Keep up the good work…
Matt Weiner
July 9th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
That Tupac was named after this one.
And second the props for other Gato — and the Cherry albums are just a whole nother world of classic.
R Gould-Saltman
July 9th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I know these tracks well; I had this on vinyl when it came out.
Only one small quibble: no synth on these tunes; that’s Rhodes e-piano through pedals and boxes, and maybe an echoplex and Leslie speaker, Joe Beck with wah-wah and volume pedal, and the miscellaneous strangeness is Nana on berimbau and stuff.
This is only a year or so after Airto turned up on “Miles At Filmore”, and many of us spent the winter listening over and over and saying “Who the heck is making THAT sound THERE, and how?”
Keep the rarities coming!
Any chance of a turning up Jeremy Steig’s “Monium”?
Simon
July 10th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
That’s always been my favourite Gato album. You’re right, it’s where he’s sitting on the fence between avant Gato and smooth Gato – and there’s where I like him best : )
Thanks for the post.
trumpetbart
July 12th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Gato is the man! He really knew how to ride the wave of energy. While I don’t own Fenix, I do have Tupac Amaru on a 1973 Flying Dutchman compilation entitled The Legend of Gato Barbieri – awesome. Also fabulous albums from this era are Latin America – Chapters I and II. Another great one that completes the trilogy is 1974′s Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata with orchestration by Chico O’Farrill. Gato’s huge sound just soars over the music. So interesting to compare the Cherry records with those of the early 70′s where the Gato sound had truly solidified. The smooth stuff is still worth a listen if only to hear Gato’s growl and the occasional avant altissimo screech.
Thanks for posting this!!
Art
July 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Thanks for reminding me of this album. I haven’t listened to in in at least 30 years. I’m going to have to dust it off and listen to the rest of it.