One of the last of the Mohicans, Gary Bartz is still active and sounding as great as ever. As far as what “ever” actually means, this 2 albums on one cd from the mid-70s shows how high a standard the adventurous the alto saxist set in terms of composition and execution.
The 1976 LA session has Bartz not only on alto, soprano and clarinet with Charles Mims/p, Curtis Robertson/b and Howard King/dr, but he’s also singing and chanting a bit on the Love Supreme-inspired “Juju Man.” He does some synthesizer work behind Syreeta’s vocals on a soulful “My Funny Valentine” and goes modal on ”Pisces Daddy Blue” before delivering a deeply moving take of “Chelsea Bridge”on clarinet. Wonderful!
A year later, Bartz still does some vocals, and brings along four other singers along with George Cables/p, Carl McDaniels/g, Robinson and King. Except for the sweet and hip soprano on “Interlude & Just Suppose,” he sticks to alto, on the funky “You” and the soulful chant of “Interlude& Don’t Stop Now.” The winner here is an intimate closer with Cables as the coo together on “Afterthoughts,” but the entire album brims over with creativity. When did jazz run out of ideas?
Fresh Sound Records