Astral Traveling

by Lonnie Liston Smith, Lonnie Liston Smith & the Cosmic Echoes

Overview

Lonnie Liston Smith was 32 when, in 1973, he finally got around to recording his first album as a leader, Astral Traveling. By that time, the pianist/keyboardist had a great deal of sideman experience under his belt, and this superb debut made it clear that former employers like Pharoah Sanders, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Gato Barbieri, and Betty Carter had taught him well. One hears a lot of Sanders, John Coltrane, and McCoy Tyner influence on Astral Traveling; Smith obviously shares their passion for all things spiritual. Nonetheless, this LP leaves no doubt that the improviser is very much his own man and has a wealth of brilliant ideas of his own; thankfully, he has a cohesive band to help him carry them out. On Astral Traveling, Smith's 1973 edition of the Cosmic Echoes includes George Barron on soprano and tenor sax, Joe Beck on guitar, Cecil McBee on bass, David Lee Jr. on drums, James Mtume and Sonny Morgan on percussion, Badal Roy on Indian tabla drums, and Geeta Vashi on the Indian tamboura. An impressive lineup, and one that shows a great understanding of Smith's spiritual nature. Ninety-five percent of the time, Astral Traveling is serene and tranquil; but on "I Mani (Faith)," the unexpected interesting happens when Barron goes outside during his sax solo and gets into the type of dissonant, forceful screaming one would expect from Albert Ayler or late-period Coltrane. "I Mani (Faith)" has a hauntingly peaceful melody, but Barron's out-of-left-field solo makes it the most avant-garde track that Smith ever recorded as a leader. Produced by the late Bob Thiele -- an eclectic heavyweight who worked with everyone from Coltrane, Ayler, and Charles Mingus to Coleman Hawkins, Count Basie, and Louis Armstrong -- Astral Traveling is among Smith's most essential and rewarding albums. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	02/05/2013
Label:	Bgp
UPC:	0029667527323

Tracks

1. Astral Traveling
2. Let Us Go into the House of the Lord
3. Rejuvenation
4. I Mani (Faith)
5. In Search of Truth
6. Aspirations
7. Astral Traveling [Alternate Version]
8. Rejuvenation [Alternate Version]
9. I Mani (Faith) [Alternate Version]
10. In Search of Truth [Alternate Version]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lonnie Liston Smith & the Cosmic Echoes   Primary Artist
Lonnie Liston Smith   Primary Artist,Piano,Piano (Electric)
Joe Beck   Guitar
James Mtume   Congas,Percussion
Sonny Morgan   Congas,Percussion
Cecil McBee   Bass
Badal Roy   Tabla
David Lee, Jr.   Drums
George Barron   Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Geeta Vashi   Tamboura

Technical Credits

Bob Thiele   Producer
Dean Rudland   Liner Notes,Coordination
Lonnie Liston Smith   Arranger,Composer,Interviewee
Nick Robbins   Mastering
Nat Hentoff   Liner Notes
Haig Adishian   Design
Charles Stewart   Cover Photo,Insert Photography
Lillian Seyfert   Assistant Producer
Traditional   Composer
Bob Simpson   Mixing