Joe McPhee’s 1971 Avant-Jazz Masterpiece ‘Nation Time’ Reissued
This month, Bay Area’s Superior Viaduct label (who also run Stranded Records in Oakland & SF) has reissued saxophonist Joe McPhee’s 1971 free-willing jazz classic Nation Time.
Originally released on the small CjR imprint, the very rare three track recording, was recorded live over a three day weekend at Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York) in December of 1970. The recording was comprised by two simultaneous playing bands, one with a more guitar and organ driven funk foundation, and a more standard jazz ensemble featuring two drummers.
The 40-minute recording is solid from start to finish, fusing funky backing rhythms with McPhee’s fiery post-Coltrane tenor solos and melodies. The music has a sense of passion and freedom to it, while maintaining enough structure that grooves.
Additional material from the same session that produced would later appear on Black Magic Man in 1975, which marked the first released by the Switzerland-based avant-jazz label Hat Hut.
Overall, Superior Viaduct has released a much-needed and welcomed reissue of Joe McPhee’s most defining masterpiece.
Joe McPhee — ‘Nation Time’
(Reissued: 2019 / Superior Viaduct)
(Original Release: 1971 / CjR)
