Gary Bartz ‎– Libra / Another Earth

Altoist Gary Bartz's first two recordings as a leader are reissued in full (except for one selection, "Disjunction," left off due to lack of space) on this 1998 CD. 

1967's "Libra" matches Bartz (then 26) with trumpeter Jimmy Owens, pianist Albert Dailey, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Billy Higgins for four diverse originals including "Eastern Blues," a lyrical "Cabin in the Sky," the old hymn "Deep River," and Charlie Parker's "Bloomdido." 

"Another Earth" features Bartz dueting with bassist Reggie Workmanon "Lost in the Stars," performing three trio quartet numbers with Workman, pianist Stanley Cowell, and drummer Freddie Waits, and welcoming trumpeter Charles Tolliver and tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (who is a little more restrained than usual) to the 23-and-a-half-minute, three-part "Another Earth." 

The music is advanced but not avant-garde, essentially falling into the genre of modern mainstream for the period. Even at this early stage, Bartz had a fairly distinctive sound and a strong musical style. Recommended.


Tracklist:

1 Eastern Blues 3:59
2 Cabin In The Sky 3:59
3 Air And Fire 5:33
4 Libra 6:22
5 Bloomdido 4:46
6 Deep River 4:51
7 Freedom One Day 5:08
8 Another Earth 23:46
9 Dark Nebula 5:04
10 Ufo 4:49
11 Lost In The Stars 4:04
12 Perihelion And Aphelion 3:47


Gary Bartz ‎– Libra / Another Earth

(320 kbps, cover art included)