Pure Pleasure Vinilo y CD

Review: It may not be one of Idris Muhammad's most celebrated albums, but "Kabsha" is arguably one of the most notable. For starters, the rollcall of musicians featured on the 1980 release is incredibly impressive, with Art Farmer collaborator Ray Drummond on Drums and George Coleman (once a member of Max Roach's regular band) and Pharoah Sanders taking it in turn to showcase their tenor saxophone skills. Musically, it sees the drummer and his distinguished guests offer up a fine selection of post-bop treats. Highlights include the bustling, loose-limbed brilliance of opener "GCCG Blues", the unshakeable energy of "St M" - which includes a series of virtuoso drum solos by Muhammad - and the fizzing joy that is closing cut "Little Feet".

Review: We write this just a few days after the sad passing of Pharoah Sanders, one of the great jazz musicians of his generation. It lends the music an extra air of potency, not that it really needed it. This one is an album that is noted for being the one that reunited Sanders with vocalist Leon Thomas, who in years previous appeared on some of Sanders' most endearing tunes. Many tunes here are defined by the use of Henderson's synthesizer but for opener 'Shukuru' and closing funereal piece 'For Big George'. Both are some of the album's highlights.