Tchicai, John – “Afrodisiaca” – [Mps]

Tchicai (pronounced CHEE-khigh) is a black jazz saxophone player who was born in Europe (of Danish and Congolese descent). On this date, he led a group of 25 musicians (the Cadentia Nova Danica) in a now legendary session in a studio in Copenhagen. Afrodisiaca is based on the scale from the balafon (see liner notes) and is very coherent for such an experimental free jazz piece. “Side 2″ are Tchicai’s pieces and are much more chaotic. Track 4 (This is Heaven) is oddly like a somewhat off kilter Salvation Army band – the liner notes invite you to call it “camp”.