Vibes From The Tribe: Essential Recordings from the legendary Detroit Jazz Collective
We take a closer look at one of the most legendary jazz collectives of the seventies in Detroit’s Tribe, and some of their classic recordings from members like Wendell Harrison, Phil Ranelin, Marcus Belgrave, and others.
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. Each collective group functioned in their own unique way with some lasting longer and being more effective than others.
One of the most notable jazz collectives of the seventies 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 Wendell Harrison, Phil Ranelin, Marcus Belgrave, Harold McKinney, Doug Hammond and others. The group prided themselves on putting out what they called “Black Creative Music” with a message that “music is the healing force of the universe.”
Tribe only lasted for about five years from approximately 1972-1977, however during that time the members of the collective released many great releases that explored the outer reaches of hard bop, soul, funk, spiritualism and the avant-garde. Even though these records didn’t initially receive the national attention they deserved, these recordings are now being recognized and praised internationally for their groundbreaking exploration of jazz.
Pressed in limited quantities at the time of their initial releases, original copies of Tribe recordings are extremely rare and typically go for anything between $500 to a few thousand dollars. With the help of Egon and Now-Again Records, some of Phil Ranelin’s personal copies of his Tribe albums were sold at a pop-up at Los Angeles’ Rappcats record shop. For those that can’t shell out a ton a cash on these records (trust me, I’m one of them), Pure Pleasure Records has re-issued selections from the Tribe catalog, and Universal Sound released a great compilation back in 1996 (re-issued again in 2010) titled Message From The Tribe (An Anthology Of Tribe Records: 1972-1976), all worth checking out.
We take a look at a few of the essential recordings from the Tribe catalog.
Wendell Harrison & Phil Ranelin — ‘A Message From The Tribe’
(1972)
An incredible mix of righteous funky soulful grooves and spiritual jazz rhythms, A Message From The Tribe is an absolute classic recording that truly helped set the foundation for all the great music that followed it. Led by Wendell Harrison on saxophone/flute and Phil Ranelin on trombone, the record also features an incredible lineup that includes Marcus Belgrave on trumpet, Jeamel Lee on vocals, Charles Eubanks on electric piano, and Charles Moore on flugel horn. There are three (that I know of) different issues of this recording, with the jazz-funk gem “Beneficent” making it’s way onto the 1974 version of the album. Overall, the record is incredible from start to finish, blending funky soulful jazz grooves and rhythms with touches of electric instrumentation and socially conscious vocals that swing.
Wendell Harrison — ‘An Evening With The Devil’
(1972)
One of the more “out” or “free” recordings in the Tribe catalogue. Led by Harrison, this album also includes Marcus Belgrave, Charles Eubanks, and Phil Ranelin, as well as occasional poetry by a group know as the Black Messengers. Like most of the Tribe recordings, the album goes through many phases, from spacey mellow moments and upbeat funky grooves to intense and sporadic instrumental passages. The album features a number of great tracks including “Mary Had An Abortion”, “Angry Young Man”, “Consciousness”, and “Rebirth”.
Marcus Belgrave — ‘Gemini II’
(1974)
Even though the trumpeter/composer performed on many Tribe recordings, Gemini II is the only one of them under Marcus Belgrave’s name. The album features many great tracks including the jazz-funk masterpiece “Glue Fingers,” which was ranked #42 on the BeatCaffeine’s Top 100 Jazz-Funk list. Other great tracks include the cosmic jazz gem “Space Odyssey,” the swingin’ “Marcia’s Opal,” and the moody electric groover “Odom’s Cave.” The album also features other prominent members of the Tribe collective including Roy Brooks, Wendell Harrison, Harold McKinney and Phil Ranelin.
Phil Ranelin — ‘The Time is Now!’
(1974)
The Time Is Now! is Phil Ranelin’s first album under just his name, even though many other Tribe members play on the recording including Wendell Harrison, Marcus Belgrave, and others. Very different than Ranelin’s 1976 album Vibes From The Tribe, the 1974 album is a lot more loose or free in it’s instrumentation even though there is an overall foundational groove throughout the record. Both the tracks fourteen-minute opener “The Time is Now For Change,” and “Black Destiny” are absolute spiritual-free jazz masterpieces.
Harold McKinney — ‘Voices And Rhythms Of The Creative Profile’
(1974)
Recently re-issued for the first time by Pure Pleasure Records, the space-aged spiritual jazz masterpiece Voices And Rhythms of The Creative Profile features a large nine-piece ensemble with a full-backing choir. This record features a number of great tracks including “Ode To Africa,” “In The Moog,” and an incredible rendition of Eddie Harris’ “Freedom Jazz Dance.”
Doug Hammond & David Durrah — ‘Reflections In The Sea Of Nurnen’
(1975)
Soulful jazz vibes led by drummer Doug Hammond(who also plays synthesizer on the album) and keyboardist David Durrah, Reflections In The Sea Of Nurnen is one of the few Tribe recordings that do not feature either Wendell Harrison, Phil Ranelin, or Marcus Belgrave. Regardless, the album definitely fits the overall Tribe vibe, with spacey funky jazz grooves and heavy-hitting electric instrumentation.
Phil Ranelin — ‘Vibes From The Tribe’
(1976)
In my opinion, Vibes From The Tribe is the greatest album to come out of Detroit’s Tribe collective. This 1976 deep jazz masterpiece features two of the most signature Tribe tracks in “Sounds From The Tribe” and the title track “Vibes From The Tribe,” both which made BeatCaffeine’s Top 100 Jazz-Funk list. Other solid tracks include “Wife,” “The Children,” and “He The One We All Knew (Parts 1 & 2).”
