BAIYINA
Pat Martino
Baiyina (The Clear Evidence)
Prestige : 1968
PM, guitar; Bobby Rose, guitar; Gregory Herbert, alto sax, flute; Richard Davis, bass; Charlie Persip, drums; Reggie Ferguson, tabla; Balakrishna, tamboura.
Regular and attentive readers of this fairly young venture will have noticed our propensity to cite, with notable frequency, a collection optimistically titled Jazz Satellites, Volume One. We hold this collection in high esteem largely because it carries that ineluctable mojo of the super-fine mix tape. Plus it opened up some doors to all that was wise and wonderful about fusion, aka kozmigroov. We tip our hats to compiler K. Martin. (There was some contempo stuff lining the cracks, too, but the real magic came out of the ’70s vault.)
It’s a turn on to be turned on to stuff, and almost as much of one to do the turning. The right compilation, like the mix tape of our adolescent dreams, can (re)awaken the pure joy of discovery, and spritz the addictive scent of whatever’s just down the road. A few such sparkling collections that come immediately to mind are Guitar Paradise of East Africa and The Music in My Head, an imaginary soundtrack to the book of the same name by Mark Hudson. These are the new vistas.
So, anyway, as “Volume One” suggests, there were plans - fairly advanced plans, it would seem – for Jazz Satellites, Volume Two. It was even going to be a multi-disc set. Sadly Virgin UK dropped the project and the compilation went unrealized. However, we discovered a projected playlist for Volume Two and it included this track from Pat Martino. Now normally we wouldn’t give Martino even a passing glance, but if K. Martin thought enough to include this on the second Satellites, well, we’re all ears.Â
And a good thing, too. “Baiyina” is a wonderfully breezy and willowy piece of fusion. It may not be all that free, but it certainly is loose. The vibe is lazy and hazy but also something more. There’s a nice sense of propulsion here, foregrounded by the slightly ominous tamboura drone and a flute that’s alternately stinging and meandery. The chiming ebb-and-flow of the guitar reminds us a bit of The Butterfield Blues Band’s epic “East/West,” another track ripe for rediscovery. Martino’s casually adventerous tune might be easily overlooked in the midst of an otherwise mediocre album. Which is where the fine art of the mixtape comes in: cherry-picking the best tracks and placing them in a new context, where they can be heard with fresh ears.
So free jazz fans, meet Pat Martino. A man whose life to date would be deemed too unlikely, soapy, and/or operatic for the likes of the Hallmark Channel. This album was subtitled “a psychedelic excursion through the magical mysteries of the Koran.” Ahem. Times are strange; 1968 was stranger. You can almost hear it all here: the possibility and paranoia, and the pleasure of a summer’s afternoon.
The album is very much available; buy it here, here, or here, to cite three stores. That last link takes you to the Concord Music Group site, the parent company for Prestige and a host of other labels. As noted elsewhere, Concord is having an alarmingly good sale on much of their jazz catalog now – alarming for multiple reasons. Read the fine print. Forewarned is forewarned, and all.
peter // Aug 23, 2006 at 7:09 am
dunno if you chaps know this, but a second volume of jazz satellites was planned – the tracklisting can be found here.
cjc // Aug 23, 2006 at 1:20 pm
Hey Peter – Thanks for the link! That’s the exact Jazz Satellites 2 tracklisting we mention in the essay. We ran across the page while back but couldn’t find it again for this entry, so it’s great to have you point it out. Much appreciated! Now if only some enterprising label would release the set…
peter // Aug 24, 2006 at 7:06 am
doh! that’ll teach me not to skim-read! apologies. a friend of mine was involved in putting together the original comp, (and the plans for vol 2), so i know a bit of the story behind it. there was a plan to make all the tracks available through the kozmigroov mailing list, and it’s just possible there might be some here (log-in required).
ps your anti-spam words seem to be most appropriate – the one for this comment is ‘fathead’. great blog btw.
doug w // Aug 24, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Virgin went as far as to produce a promotional card for JSV2, including cover art, release date (20.10.97) and proposed tracklisting that differed slightly from that originally provided by Motion and referenced above by Peter. Here’s the original cut:
Mahavishnu Orchestra “Miles Out”
George Russell “Events I-VII”
Weather Report “Boogie Woogie Waltz”
Olatunji “Dajun”
Carl Craig/Innerzone Orchestra “Bug in the Bass Bin”
Joe Zawinul “Arrival in New York”
Chris Bowden “Life Support”
Ray Russell Quartet “A Day in the Life of a Slave in Lower Egypt”
White Noise “The Black Mass”
Howard Shore/Ornette Coleman “Interzone Suite”
Marc Moulin “Tohubohu”
Peter Brotzmann/Bill Laswell “Death Rattle”
Joe Harriott “Multani”
AMM “Convergence”
Lights in a Fat City “When I Go Up (I Feel Like Shouting)”
Yusef Lateef “Madras”
Masabumi Kikuchi “Auroral Flare”
Sonny Sharrock “Many Mansions”
Pat Martino “Baiyina”
Terumasa Hino “Aboriginal”
Both listings are products of the era when they were compiled: the influx of so-called “modern kozmigroov” during the late 90s/early 00s was just starting and as such, Martin’s choices remained strongly tilted toward the first generation. A few years later, the results would likely have reflected a far more optimistic future for this music.
cjc // Aug 25, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Hey Doug – Wow, I had no idea that Virgin came so close to putting out the set. Thanks for posting this revised tracklist.
Any insight as to why JSV2 was dropped so close to production? And any idea why a number of the song selections changed? Was the more expansive track list that Peter linked to Martin’s ideal first choices? Also curious what you’d pick as the cream of the modern kozmigroov crop.
Peter – if you have any more inside scoop about JSV2, please chime in.
And if anyone out there knows K. Martin, we’d love to get in touch with him for the blog.
mapsadaisical // Aug 27, 2006 at 6:32 am
I love the site. Keep it up.
That is all.
doug w // Aug 27, 2006 at 10:08 pm
cjc,
I believe that when Simon Hopkins (champion of the AMBT-prefixed series) left Virgin in 1997, it was decided there would be no further compilations/artist projects in this line. The series stopped at AMBT24 and JSV2 would’ve been AMBT25. I’ve no idea why the tracklisting changed– could’ve been licensing issues (I’ve heard that ECM for example can be thorny) or simply that an opportunity for revision presented itself.
Post-1997, the subgenre has seen further definition from within the Oslo underground; the thornier fringes of French electrojazz; UK proponents such as Electric Dr M, Lob, and Spin Marvel; the bumping freejazz on some of Thirsty Ear’s Blue Series joints; free fusion from the NYC Downtown sect (Dave Douglas’ Freak In, Zorn’s Electric Masada); and most recently the trans-Atlantic mutations of Hebden/Reid’s Exchange Sessions. Bless ‘em all.
JJ // Jul 16, 2008 at 9:49 am
i have the 3 CD Jazz Satellites Volume 2 set (per K. Martin\’s original tracklisting) available for sale if anyone is interested….
JJ
JJ // Jul 16, 2008 at 10:03 am
Hi Doug W,
I was wondering where you got the “revised track listing” for Jazz Satellites Volume 2 ? Is the order of the tracks as listed in your posting? Is it a 2 CD set like Vol.1? Is the cover art/liner notes/promo information available for posting?
thanks,
JJ
doug w // Jul 16, 2008 at 10:13 pm
JJ, as I’d mentioned upthread, the original sequence was included with the promo sheet for what would be the final four releases of the Virgin Ambient series in 1997. (JSV2 was the only one of the four to go unreleased.) The revised sequence hosted at the Adventures In Sound site was first posted to the Zorn list by Simon Hopkins in early 2000, after he’d left Virgin. Depending on whether the cuts were full length or edited– many of the titles run from half to a full side of a record– I suppose even the original sequence could have stretched to a healthy 3 discs.
For sale? In the absence of the real thing, I’d be much happier if any actualizing were kept as non-profit.
JJ // Jul 17, 2008 at 5:37 pm
doug w,
it took me a lot of time and $ to burn the 3 cd set but i did it as a labor of love so i won’t sell it. but i would like to know if anyone out there has a copy of the promo sheet so i can confirm (1) track sequence, (2) track times, and (3) which album that track “DAJUN” is from. I can’t locate that song in any Olatunji discography! Also (4) the listing above says Yusef Lateef – Madras which I think may be an error. The other track listing had Yusef Lateef-Sound Wave and Charlie Mariano – Madras. Could the listing above be a typo combination of the 2 songs?
Thanks for keeping this thread going for all us Jazz Satellites fans,
JJ
JJ // Jul 19, 2008 at 1:36 pm
doug w,
To clarify, do we know for a fact that the original tracklisting posted above was the “draft version”, and the actual tracklisting that would have happened if JSV2 wasn’t cancelled would have been the one Simon Hopkins posted in 2000?
Thanks,
JJ
Also – anywhere to get a copy of that cover art?
JJ // Jul 24, 2008 at 6:29 pm
doug w,
can you please answer these questions for me:
1) is the tracklisting in this thread above that you provided OR the tracklisting provided by simon hopkins to adventures in sound website the actual tracklisting that would have been used if JSV2 was released?
2) if it is the listing above that you provided, then can you clarify the Yusef Lateef – Madras question I raised in above thread?
3) if it is the listing above, can you also clarify the Olatunji question I raised in above thread?
4) is the cover art available anywhere?
thanks very much,
JJ
doug w // Jul 28, 2008 at 8:56 am
JJ,
1) I provided the tracklisting for JSV2 that most likely would’ve been released had the series continued on Virgin. The tracklisting at the Adventures in Sound website is a subsequent, revised program that was at one point intended for the Motion Radio Show. AFAIK, this never happened.
2) I agree that “Madras” is the Charlie Mariano cut.
3) I think this is “Dakun” from Olatunji’s DRUMS! DRUMS! DRUMS! I note that the Virgin promo card was rife with typos.
4) I’ve upped a scan of the intended cover art to http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/5165/jsv2xk5.jpg
Doug
JJ // Jul 28, 2008 at 1:37 pm
doug w,
1) I will assume your tracklisting above is the “real” Kevin Martin-compiled tracklisting that would have been used on JSV2, unless we hear different from Simon Hopkins. Does anyone know how to contact him & ask him where he got that “revised” tracklisting from?
2) Can you upload a scan of the promo card?
I would like to confirm both Yusef Lateef’s “Soundwave” AND Charlie Mariano’s “Madras” belong on JSV2. I assume if the promo said Yusef Lateef-”Madras”, then that typo means both songs belong on JSV2.
3) I totally agree that “Dakun” is the Olatunji song. It features Sun Ra Arkestra members!
4) Thanks for the scan of the front cover!
Can you provide all other artwork for JSV2 – like the promo card, back cover, notes, etc.
JJ
doug w // Jul 28, 2008 at 2:55 pm
JJ, the listing that I’d provided upthread is verbatim from the JSV2 promo card. If you’d like to get more info from Simon, he’s got a blog happening at
http://simonphopkins.typepad.com/
The info read, “Yusef Lateef – Madras”, so you may assume what you wish. I’m not sure whether it’s worth the anguish to go for estimates of accuracy when the playlist was subsequently tweaked but hey, that’s your choice.
Beyond what I’ve already provided, there’s no further info in the promo card. Sorry.
Doug
JJ // Jul 28, 2008 at 3:29 pm
doug w,
ok. thanks, if you could upload the actual promo card, i would like to see it still.
thanks,
JJ
JJ // Aug 4, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Hi JJ
Thanks for getting in touch and I’m glad you like JS1 so much.
Now all this is somewhat lost in the mists of time for me, I have to say!
If memory serves, the Virgin promo card should be accurate; the album was going to be released in the Spring of 1998 at some point, but it was dropped after I left the company.
Unfortunately, I have no recollection of a revised version. It’s possible that Kevin did a new version for another prospective label or maybe for a website, but I couldn’t say for certain. I haven’t spoken to Kevin for years and don’t have a contact for him. You might want to drop a line to The Bug MySpace page?
Simon
—– Original Message —-
To: [simon hopkins]
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 9:07:22 AM
Subject: Jazz Satellites Vol. 2 (JSV2)
Dear Simon,
I am a fellow music lover (Sonic Youth, Miles Davis, etc.), and I really dig that Jazz Satellites comp that you and Kevin Martin put out in 1996. I know there was supposed to be a 3CD sequel (JSV2) and I would like to ask you for some information about it. I think it should go down in history as one of the great “lost” (unreleased) albums.
FIrstly, I learned about JSV2 from “Adventures in Sound” website which listed the tracks and claimed that you provided them as the “official” Kevin Martin-compiled listing.
Just recently, I saw a slightly different tracklisting (posted by doug w) at “Destination Out”. Doug w states this was the original tracklisting that would have been released as he got it right off the Virgin promo card for JSV2.
1) Can you confirm which is the original Kevin Martin -compiled listing?
2) Why was it revised?
3) Did Kevin Martin revise it or someone else?
Thanks for whatever info you can give on this fascinating compilation!
JJ
pscreed // Aug 20, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Respect to Doug for some great info, and JJ for persistence if not communal spirit :)
Anyway at the risk of getting gonged as blog spam, I have collected, tagged and upped every track in the “original version” of JSV2 as posted by Doug W above for your listening pleasure. You can find links at the original post on the relaunched kozmigroov.org. Thanks DO for an inspirational place.
JJ // Sep 1, 2008 at 1:36 am
Can anyone confirm the “disc breaks” – in other words, is “Arrival in NY” the last song on Disc 1, or the first song on Disc 2? And is AMM’s “Convergence” the last song on Disc 2, or the first song on Disc 3?
Did the Virgin promo card have this information?
Thanks,
JJ
JJ // Nov 5, 2008 at 7:36 pm
ANYONE???
Can anyone confirm the “disc breaks” – in other words, is “Arrival in NY” the last song on Disc 1, or the first song on Disc 2? And is AMM’s “Convergence” the last song on Disc 2, or the first song on Disc 3?
Did the Virgin promo card have this information?
Thanks,
JJ
CAN ANYONE ANSWER THIS??
Egyptology // Oct 26, 2009 at 2:04 am
[...] to appear on the semi-mythical Jazz Satellites 2 compilation, the song is currently available on expensive Japanese import, and appears to be a Verve/Impulse [...]