For the latest release of the fantastic Jazz Is Dead series, Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad team up with two iconic legends in trombonist Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison, founders of the 70’s Detroit-based independent label and collective, Tribe Records.

During the seventies, many jazz artists in major cities like Detroit, Chicago and New York began to form artist collectives as a result of being frustrated with the major label recording industry. Similar to labor unions, these collectives served as a support system for many upcoming artists looking for recording dates and steady gigs, while in-turn receiving fair financial compensation. The primary goal of a unified collective was self-reliance and control of the music, allowing musicians to have the freedom to be more experimental and creative without the outside influence of a major label record executive “watering down” their art. These collectives also spent a lot of time in their communities, often helping educate younger African-Americans about music, black history, and social awareness.

One of the most notable jazz collectives of the 70s came out of Detroit and was known as Tribe. This collective, which released all their material under the label name Tribe Records, was a political and social conscious driven group featuring a number of incredible musicians from the “Motor City,” including Harrison and Ranelin, Marcus Belgrave, Harold McKinney, Doug Hammond and others. The group prided themselves on taking full control of the creation, promotion, and distribution what they called “Black Creative Music,” with a message that “music is the healing force of the universe.” The label and its magazine set an important early precedent for community-driven arts organizations, and still stands as a testament to their potential and efficacy.

The forward-thinking spirit of those now essential Tribe releases, like A Message From The Tribe, The Time Is Now!, Vibes From The Tribe and others has brilliantly found it’s way and been captured on this latest Jazz Is Dead record. Over seven standout tracks, JID016 nicely blends together with a heavy-dose of soulful spiritual grooves, moody cosmic textures, and jazz-funk rhythms. Harrison, Ranelin, Younge, Ali Shaheed, along with drummer Greg Paul, impressively account for all the instrumentation on the recording.

With Tribe Records helping pave the way for modern-day labels like Jazz Is Dead and others to run independently, this is not only one of the best jazz recordings you’ll hear in 2023, but an important and fitting tribute to two trailblazing greats that pioneered this creative and liberating approach.

› BeatCaffeine: Essential Tribe Label Recordings

Phil Ranelin, Wendell Harrison, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad — ‘JID016’
(Jazz Is Dead)

1. Genesis
2. Open Eye
3. Running With The Tribe
4. Fire In Detroit
5. Ursa Major
6. Metropolitan Blues
7. Black Census

BUY RECORD

• Jazz
• Jazz Funk
• Spiritual Jazz