Sounds Of Liberation – Unreleased

2019 is turning out pretty good if you (like me) are a fan of 70s American community-focused, politicised spiritual jazz. We’ve had reissues from Chicago’s Infinite Spirit Music, Detroit’s Griot Galaxy and several from LA’s Horace Tapscott and his Arkestra. Perhaps there’s a need for them, and their message, to be heard again right now? To further add to that hallowed list we now we have this gem from Philly’s Sounds of Liberation, purveyors of “Black Liberation Music”. Sounds Of […]

Hearing newly-released albums from Philadelphia’s Nat Turner Rebellion (“Laugh to Keep From Crying”) and Sounds of Liberation (“Unreleased”) is both a breath of fresh, funky air and a set of testaments finely tuned to the tenor of our times – the sociopolitical black consciousness of inequity, racism, poverty and problematic police interaction. Released by local labels – respectively Drexel University’s MAD Dragon Records via Vinyl Me, Please and Dogtown Records in connection with Brewerytown Beats  – each album’s soulful songs, […]

The Sun Ra Arkestra has been hailed as one of the greatest big bands of all time, and their maestro Marshall Allen will be celebrating his 95th “arrival day” this year! In celebration, Ars Nova Workshop is presenting the Arkestra with another legendary Philadelphia collective, Sounds of Liberation. Drummer-composer Eli Keszler, best known for his work with Laurel Halo and Oneohtrix Point Never, opens. Though the iconic Sun Ra left the planet in 1993, his cosmic legacy is proudly maintained by the interstellar sounds […]