Over the last couple years, New York’s Frederiksberg Records has put out some of the highest quality and rarest reissue releases. That certainly remains the case with their official reissue of trumpeter Milt Ward’s extremely obscure 1977 adventurous cosmic jazz-funk album Milt Ward And Virgo Spectrum.

Originally self-released by Ward himself, this incredible six-track album is brilliant from start to finish, blending together soaring horn melodies and solos with cosmic keys and funky percussion grooves. For fans of Strata-East and Black Jazz, this music right on par with many of the releases from those classic labels.

Emerging out of Boston’s Berklee College of Music, Ward put together a phenomenal lineup of (at the time) young emerging artists from New York, Boston and even South America, including keyboard wizard Delmar Brown, future Jazz Messenger saxophonist Billy Pierce, saxophonist/flutist Eddie Alex, baritone saxophonist Glenn Barbour (who later joined The Whole Darn Family), percussionist Ignacio Mena, bassist Cucho Martinez, drummer Hugh Petersen and two heavyweights from the NY spiritual jazz movement, bassist Cecil McBee and saxophonist Carlos Ward.

This limited-edition and officially licensed reissue (only 500 copies!) includes remastered tracks from the original LP along with in-depth liner notes that provide a detailed account of Ward’s journey from his early years discovering music in the South to his toils finding a hold in the music business in Boston and New York City.

Overall, another absolute essential reissue release from Frederiksberg Records that will hopefully turn new generations on to this remarkable and timeless music.

Milt Ward And Virgo Spectrum — ‘s/t’
(Originally released: 1977 / Twin Quest)
(Reissued: 2022 / Frederiksberg Records)

1. Mr. Cheese
2. The Foreigner
3. Morning Glories
4. The Charle
5. Virgo Paths
6. Juneboy’s Frismas

BUY RECORD

• Cosmic
• Jazz
• Jazz Funk
• Spiritual Jazz