Sounds Of Liberation - s/t LP

$23.98

Sounds of Liberation was a band – and a social movement – formed in of the Germantown and Mount Airy neighborhoods of Philadelphia in 1970. The group consisted of seven members: Khan Jamal (vibraphone), Byard Lancaster (alto saxophone), Billy Mills (bass), Dwight James (drums), Monnette Sudler (guitar), Omar Hill (percussion), and Rashid Salim (percussion). Originally conceived and formed by Khan Jamal, the arrival of Byard Lancaster in 1971 helped shift their focus and efforts into a higher gear. Jamal and Lancaster would work together in different configurations throughout the decade.

Sounds of Liberation were at the forefront of avant-garde Black expression in the early 1970s, putting action behind their creative endeavors. They were as much of a community force as a band, and there was a strong desire by the entire group to work with a range of different populations, from school children to inmates. They continued to do so through the mid-1970s. In addition to club performances, the collective initiated happenings in elementary schools, prisons and community centers throughout Philly, to great success and impact in the city's African-American and jazz community. Following up the heralded first-ever release of Sounds of Liberation's Unreleased (Columbia University 1973) and the re-formation of the group for live performances earlier this year, Dogtown Records and Brewerytown Beats are back to keep their legacy alive and introduce the group to a new generation of fans.

Originally released in 1972, Sounds of Liberation is a six-song, 50-minute album of original music (with compositions attributed to the group, in addition to co-author Abraham Howard Jr. on "Happy Tuesday"). It was reissued to great acclaim by Porter Records in 2010 and – like the original version – has been out-of-print for many years. Now that the group's surviving members have re-formed and are performing again, Dogtown and Brewerytown Beats plan to keep it in print for the foreseeable future. This new reissue package – with liner notes by legendary Philly jazz chronicler, historian and author Francis Davis – has been prepared for this important reissue by group members, in collaboration with Peter "Max" Ochester of Philly's Brewerytown Beats Records.