Billy Harper - Capra Black rare 70's deep spiritual jazz vinyl LP on Strata East

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Billy Harper  -  Capra Black reissue of 1973 LP  -  vinyl issue of this classic soul jazz recording on Strata East.   - hard-to-find and collectible.  own this artifact!















"This great group of players are joined by a quintet of voices including Eugene McDaniels on a couple of tracks who sing behind the jazz players in an uplifting spiritual mode that cries out with the new soul jazz freedom of the 70s."


"Texas-born saxophonist Billy Harper had played with many of the greats (Gil Evans, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones) before recording this first album as a leader in 1973. Influenced heavily by Coltrane, Harper was part of the “black consciousness” movement in jazz, which fueled such artist-owned labels as Strata-East in New York, Tribe Records in Detroit, and Black Jazz in Chicago. This session for Strata-East features an all-star cast, including George Cables (piano), Reggie Workman (bass), Julian Priester (trombone), Billy Cobham (drums), and more, including a special appearance by drummer Elvin Jones on the track “Sir Galahad.” One of the quintessential traits of this strain of jazz, the vocal chorus, is featured prominently on the two tracks from Side Black, linking the music to its roots in gospel. The equally-important blues influence shines through clearly, as well; just check out the track “New Breed” for evidence of that. All in all, an impressive debut from Mr. Harper. Interesting bit of trivia: Harper’s next album release was BLACK SAINT, inaugurating the label of the same name, which is still active today."

"Capra Black remains one of the seminal recordings of jazz's black consciousness movement.  A profoundly spiritual effort that channels both the intellectual complexity of the avant-garde as well as the emotional potency of gospel, its focus and assurance belie Billy Harper's inexperience as a leader.  Backed by an all-star supporting unit including trombonist Julian Priester and drummer Billy Cobham, Harper's tenor summons the brute force and mystical resolve of John Coltrane but transcends its influences to communicate thoughts and feelings both idiosyncratic and universal.  This is music of remarkable corporeal substance that somehow expresses the pure language of the soul."


side Capra:

1. Capra Black means "Black Capricorn"-Billy Harper's date of birth is January 17, 1943.
  The composition was written to express the dark,subtle mood, the deep inner strength, the earthiness, the complexity and the thoroughness of the Capricorn.
Capra Black has a rather involved form. After the 16-bar introduction, there is a 35-24 bar form.
The bridge is 9 bars long, and on the outside of the 35-24 form is a vamp that begins the solos. The composition is characterized by an 8/8 feeling, though the basic 35-24 form was written in 4/4. The vamp, which doubles the feeling of 8/8 (16/8) is written in 8/8 and is 16 bars long. From this point on, the rest of the composition is written in 8/8. its true feeling.
lt may be interesting to note that some of The Impressions' older compositions had the 8/8 feeling. The nature of this rhythmic feeling is, in color, black. The color black. itself, shows the basic qualities of Capricorn all over the planet.
The composition. Capra Black, itself, mirrors and expresses some of the basic qualities of "Blackness."
2. Sir Galahad is a M composition. lt was written for a peculiar friend who opened to me an awareness of man's relation to the universe as well as his relation to living beings and living  animals. . .
There is an 8-bar interlude that reoccurs during the basic form. It sounds like a galloping horse, so it's called the "gallop-vamp." On this cut, Elvin takes a solo that explodes with the fury of a stallion, keeping in context with the galloping Sir Galahad.
3. New Breed represents a new stock of young people with new ideas about their destiny.
The song is a 12-bar blues. Billy Cobham plays the drums on this one. Dick Griffin plays trombone.


side  Black:

1. Soulfully, I Love You, the Black Spiritual of Love incorporates the use of voices. This composition is written to simulate an anthem. I heard the voices as instruments-herald trumpets.
2. Cry of Hunger! Contrary to that condition that most men describe as obligation, or desire, or exigency, when in fact, it is really greed, I am speaking of a hunger justified by true and honest need.
This is a composition that expresses with its projection as well as with its form, the sound of hunger-be it the hunger of love, lust, security. revolution, excitement, peace, unity. It states the hunger that most men have, and to be more explicit,the hunger that lives within "the struggle."The Cry begins in turmoil until it builds to an abrupt release, then the struggle starts again.This cycle is repeated with release and the finishing strife, then comes a section of peace and faith . . . "There‘lI be e-nough some- day." After the calm, comes the strife and
struggle again, because men will make it so. And still again, as the composition dictates. . .
perhaps: "There’ll be e-nough some-day." -B. H.

Capra Black features:

George Cables. Piano
Haggis Workman. Bass
Julian Priester. Trombone
Dick Griffin. Trombone
Billy Cobham. Drums
Warren Smilh, Drums
Jimmy Owens. Trumpet
Special guest: Elvin Jones. Drums
Voices:
Barbara Grant
Laveda Johnson
Gene McDaniels
Pal Robinson
Billy Harper


take note fans of Chico Freeman, Clifford Jordan, Nathan Davis, Don Cherry, Ed Blackwell, Billy Higgins, Ornette Coleman, Pharoah Sanders, Eddie Henderson, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Harold Land, Black Jazz, soulful afro jazz, dusty groove, etc.


CONDITION:  excellent


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