Australian-born, New York-based composer and pianist Barney McAll, who has made his mark playing along side Gary Bartz, Billy Harper, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesely, Dewey Redman, and so many others, has released a brilliant new uplifting cosmic soul-jazz album on his Extra Celestial Arts label, titled Precious Energy.

On this incredible eight-track recording, McAll pulls together a phenomenal cast of musicians including longtime collaborator and jazz legend Gary Bartz, bassist Paul Bender, keyboardist Simon Mavin, and drummer Perrin Moss of Hiatus Kaiyote, along with Laneous on vocals and guitar, vocalist Rita Satch and Belle Bangard, and some of the finest musicians coming out of Australia.

Musically, the session blends together cosmic and spacey keys with soaring saxophone solos, spiritual grooves, and soulful hypnotic vocals and chants. The album also includes great new renditions of Leon Thomas’ “Precious Energy”, and bassist Bill Lee’s “John Coltrane”, which was most notably included on Clifford Jordan’s classic 1973 Strata-East recording Glass Bead Games, and The Descendants Of Mike And Phoebe’s 1974 full-length gem A Spirit Speaks (also released on Strata-East).

Overall, this remarkable recording is a fresh forward-leaning approach to cosmic soul-jazz. You can mark it down already, this is absolutely one of the best albums of 2022.

Barney McAll — ‘Precious Energy’
(Extra Celestial Arts)

1. Precious Energy – Homage To Leon Thomas and Pharoah Sanders ft. Julien Wilson, Rita Satch
2. Sweet Water ft. – Homage To Oshun Rita Satch, Julien Wilson
3. Wild Horses In The Morning Sky ft. Laneous, Rita Satch
4. Sweet Sweet Spirit ft. Homage to Doris Akers ft. Gary Bartz, Rita Satch, Belle Bangard
5. Sun Rays ft. Jace XL, Laneous
6. Stevland ft. – Homage to Stevie Wonder Gary Bartz, Jace XL, Rita Satch, Belle Bangard
7. John Coltrane Homage to Strata East ft. Gary Bartz
8. Precious Energy (Bonus ‘Lord’s Garden’ Remix)

BUY RECORD

• Cosmic
• Jazz
• Jazz Funk
• Spiritual Jazz