Detroit Jazz Composers Ltd. - The Hastings Street Jazz Experience (1LP Vinyl, Import)

Detroit Jazz Composers Ltd. by The Hastings Street Jazz Experience.

Few records capture the spirit of a city and a moment quite like "Detroit Jazz Composers Ltd." by The Hastings Street Jazz Experience. A replica reissue of the 1976 original, this album gathers a sprawling collective of Detroit players into a single ambitious statement, one that carries the official weight of an endorsement from the Detroit Bicentennial Commission Inc. It is a document of a scene rather than a solo showcase, and that communal energy runs through every groove.

The music was captured across two sessions, on January 2 and April 1, 1976, at Super Disc Sound Studio in Detroit, Michigan. Bob Dennis handled the recording engineering as well as the remix-mastering, giving the set its cohesive sound, while Ed Nelson and Miller Brisker share production credit. The eight-track program moves from opener "Mark 1" through pieces like "Ja-Mil," "Song For 'M'," and "A Little Love For You (Love Sounds)" on the first side, then into "Yes Lord," "Arjuna," "Nobody Had To Tell Me," and the closing "Now You're Gone."

What makes this record remarkable is the sheer breadth of its personnel. The horn section alone is a small army, with alto saxophones from Louis Barnett, Samuel Spraggins, and Teddy Buckner; a tenor lineup that includes Charlie Brown, Charlie Gabriel, Walter Strickland, along with Barnett and Brisker; and Earnest Rodgers anchoring on baritone. Trombones come from Edward Gooch, Jimmy Wilkins, and Phil Ranelin, while the trumpet and flugelhorn duties fall to Charles Hooks, Eddie Jones, John Wilson, and Herbie Williams.

The textures deepen well beyond brass and reeds. Teddy Harris turns up on piano, soprano saxophone, percussion, and piccolo flute, sharing keyboard space with Miller Brisker and Sylvia Turner, who also lends harp. Leonard McDonald and Will Davis handle electric piano, Duke Billingslea holds down the bass, and Nasir Hafiz brings vibes. Flutes arrive courtesy of Rodgers, Ronald Fain, and Spraggins, while guitarists Earl Thomas and Vaughn Klugh add further color. A rich percussion contingent, including Mitchell Atkins, Sherrell Rowland, Sundiata O.M., Edgar Spand, Jerome Combs, Margo Harris, and Olaju Kali, keeps the rhythmic pulse alive alongside drummer Ed Nelson.

Voices play their part too. Kim Weston appears as vocalist, surrounded by a large chorus of voices that includes Ava Rose, Blaine Nichols, Guyanne Collins, Mikyo Adaku, Robert and Sandra McCarther, Sonya Gray, and many of the players themselves. Herb Boyd contributes the liner notes, and Desmond Jones designed the cover, rounding out a release that feels as much like a Detroit family gathering as a jazz album. For collectors drawn to the deep, self determined jazz of 1970s Detroit, this is an essential piece of the story.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Mark 1
A2. Ja-Mil
A3. Song For "M"
A4. A Little Love For You (Love Sounds)
B1. Yes Lord
B2. Arjuna
B3. Nobody Had To Tell Me
B4. Now You're Gone

Credits:
Louis Barnett - Alto Saxophone
Samuel Spraggins - Alto Saxophone
Teddy Buckner (2) - Alto Saxophone
Earnest Rodgers - Baritone Saxophone
Duke Billingslea - Bass
Mitchell Atkins - Congas
Sherrell Rowland - Congas
Sundiata O.M. - Congas
Desmond Jones (2) - Design [Cover Design]
Ed Nelson (3) - Drums
Leonard McDonald - Electric Piano
Will Davis (2) - Electric Piano
Bob Dennis - Engineer [Recording], Mastered By [Remix-mastering]
Herbie Williams - Flugelhorn
Earnest Rodgers - Flute
Ronald Fain - Flute
Samuel Spraggins - Flute
Earl Thomas (3) - Guitar
Vaughn Klugh - Guitar
Sylvia Turner - Harp
Herb Boyd - Liner Notes
Ed Nelson (3) - Percussion
Edgar Spand - Percussion
Jerome Combs - Percussion
Margo Harris - Percussion
Olaju Kali - Percussion
Teddy Harris - Percussion
Miller Brisker - Piano
Sylvia Turner - Piano
Teddy Harris - Piano
Teddy Harris - Piccolo Flute
Ed Nelson (3) - Producer
Miller Brisker - Producer
Teddy Harris - Soprano Saxophone
Charlie Brown (9) - Tenor Saxophone
Charlie Gabriel - Tenor Saxophone
Louis Barnett - Tenor Saxophone
Miller Brisker - Tenor Saxophone
Walter Strickland - Tenor Saxophone
Edward Gooch - Trombone
Jimmy Wilkins - Trombone
Phil Ranelin - Trombone
Charles Hooks - Trumpet
Eddie Jones (2) - Trumpet
Herbie Williams - Trumpet
John Wilson (7) - Trumpet
Nasir Hafiz - Vibraphone [Vibes]
Kim Weston - Vocals [Vocalist]
Ava Rose - Vocals [Voices]
Blaine Nichols - Vocals [Voices]
Ed Nelson (3) - Vocals [Voices]
Guyanne Collins - Vocals [Voices]
Jerome Combs - Vocals [Voices]
Mikyo Adaku - Vocals [Voices]
Miller Brisker - Vocals [Voices]
Olaju Kali - Vocals [Voices]
Robert McCarther - Vocals [Voices]
Sandra McCarther - Vocals [Voices]
Sonya Gray - Vocals [Voices]
Sundiata O.M. - Vocals [Voices]

Notes:
Replica reissue of 1976 original

Recorded January 2 / April 1, 1976 at Super Disc Sound Studio, Detroit, Michigan.

"Endorsed by the Detroit Bicentennial Commission Inc."

Artist: The Hastings Street Jazz Experience

Format: 1LP, Import

Genre: Jazz

Label: Midnite Records (5)

Catalog Number: Stereo MR 1976

Release Year: 2018

Country: Import

Condition: Sealed (New)