A tribute to Malcolm X recorded in Chicago in 1968, The Malcolm X Memorial chronicles a life in four movements through avant-jazz and blues and an improvisationally tinged free-bop that makes me want to do nothing except dive into Philip Cohran's extensive but somewhat obscure catalog. Most noted for his stint in Sun Ra's ARKESTRA, Cohran spent years in Chicago nurturing and playing with younger musicians (Chaka Khan and EARTH WIND & FIRE, to name a couple), curating the Affro-Arts Theater and helping create the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians....there's a lot more to say about an under the radar icon who died last year at 90, but instead I suggest focusing on this brilliant 35 minute long performance - if the purpose was to take the listener on a journey, then mission accomplished. From the innocence of "Malcolm Little" to the tension in "El Hajj Malik El Shabazz," Cohran's ensemble carries and transports the listener, even though this trip is a half century in our past. Highest recommendation for reflective sonic escapes.
Like the Sonny Sharrock post from few weeks back, these sounds were put to tape by the Good People at Loathed Sound Department...
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