Rabble Without A Cause
Wednesday April 1st, 2015 with Bernard Stepien
Free Jazz Archeology: Marzette Watts, 1966

In 1966, John Coltrane was still alive and at his height into Free Jazz. This was a very busy time with Vietnam War opposition and Civil Rights movements in full swing. Musically, the urge to do something different and push it to the limits was omnipresent. Large ensembles based on collective improvisation were the rule rather than the exception. Saxophonist Marzette Watts was one of them. Even more important was the fact that there were some visionaries, in this case Bernard Stollman with his ESP-DISK label who recorded them and released the recordings. Tonight we will enjoy a session recorded in 1966 with saxophonists Marzette Watts and Byard Lancaster, trombonist Clifford Thornton, guitarist Sonny Sharrock, vibraphonist Karl Berger, bassists Juni Booth and Henry grimes and drummer J.C. Moses. This is an ESP-DISK CD re-issue, so get it fast! For those who need more extensive Japanese Free Jazz, try this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wHqIKhXuTU&app=desktop