BBE Music reissues David Wertman & Sun Ensemble’s rare 1983 spiritual jazz album ‘Wide Eye Culture’

David Wertman & Sun Ensemble - Wide Eye Culture

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BBE Music reissues David Wertman & Sun Ensemble’s rare 1983 spiritual jazz album ‘Wide Eye Culture’

Following the 2019 BBE Music reissue of bassist David Wertman’s 1978 Sun Ensemble debut Earthly Delights, the London-based label has re-released an expansive version of the group’s 1983 spiritual jazz album Wide Eye Culture.

Originally recorded five years following the more free-jazz Earthly Delights session, this special 3xLP deluxe edition of the album includes three more obscure independent releases by Wertman and his wife/musical partner Lynne Meryl.

Emerging among the 70s New York Loft scene and performing with notable groundbreaking artists like Billy Bang, Arthur Blythe, Steve Reid, Charles Tyler and others. Moving away from the more free-improvisational direction, Wide Eye Culture is much more spiritual, blending together hypnotic rhythms, with earthy tones, and Meryl’s haunting, yet acrobatic vocals. The recording, at times, even breaks into some more jazz dance-like grooves.

Alongside a core trio of vocalist Lynne Meryl, pianist Tom McClung and Wertman himself, the Wide Eye Culture album features future Sting/Don Cherry collaborator Tony Vacca on drums and Aretha Franklin/Tony Bennet band member turned music lecturer Tim Atherton on trombone. Other local musicians and friends feature on the 1981 flexi-disc You Are My Love, recorded under Lynne Meryl’s name only; the Sun Ensemble’s Up In The Sky, and 1982’s 7inch release, Blessing of Love/Golden Light.

Overall, this is phenomenal and well-crafted reissue nicely touches upon the diverse nature of David Wertman, Lynne Meryl, his ensemble, and their unique spiritual jazz sound. Highly recommended!