The more I seem to explore Archie Shepp's music, the more that I'm convinced that he is absolutely one of my all-time favorite saxophonists. Ever since being turned onto his music many years ago, I have continued to seek out his records, especially from the sixties and seventies. After the unfortunate passing of John Coltrane, many of his bandmates and what could be termed as his disciples like Shepp seemed to grab the jazz world by storm and usher in the "New Thing" sound that Coltrane unintentionally helped create. I've always enjoyed how Shepp, throughout his recordings, infused Afrocentric themes and grooves into his music. One track that this incorporation of African-rooted tones is very prevalent is in his 1974 rendition of "New Africa", which was composed by fellow bandmate and notable trombonist Grachan Moncur III back in the late sixties for his own release on BYG Records. This newer version of the track appeared on Shepp's Kwanza album, which was released on Impulse!. The recording has a very spiritual vibe that blends beautifully with Shepp's powerful and heavily African influenced sound. Just one of the many recordings that helped solidify Shepp as one of the best and most forward-thinking saxophonist of the late sixties and seventies.
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