Album Review
Farrah, Shamek – “First Impressions ” – [Strata-East]
Max Level 3/8/2006 12-inch, Jazz
Impressive 1974 material by this somewhat obscure alto saxophonist. Farrah, Norman Person (trumpet), and Milton Suggs (bass), fine players all, are on every track, working with a different pianist and drummer on each side. Side One includes a straight-ahead bebop-style cooker and a ballad number. Side Two leans more toward the funky, with a couple of extra percussionists, and some especially good work by pianist Sonelius Smith. The title track is outstanding, with its meandering melodic lines and thoughtful soloing over a massively funky groove. I was not familiar until now with the excellent Strata-East label, which reportedly released somewhere around 50 albums during its existence. They focused on the jazz aspect of raised Black consciousness in 1970s America, with powerful releases by Clifford Jordan, Charles Brackeen, Pharoah Sanders, and Gil Scott-Heron, to name but a few. Needless to say, material not to be slept on.
you heard it 21 times on kfjc! most recently:
- 96 days ago, Naysayer played Meterologicly Tuned
- 257 days ago, Naysayer played Meterologicly Tuned
- 397 days ago, Naysayer played First Impressions
- 3008 days ago, Sly Masterson played Watch What Happens Now
- 3028 days ago, Goodwrench played Watch What Happens Now
12345 S. El Monte Road Los Altos Hills, California 94022
Public Inspection File
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