Damisi

Harold Land was born in Houston in 1928 and grew up in San Diego, California. in 1954, he joined the Max Roach/Clifford Brown Quintet recording one of the most important albums in the development of hard Bop, which was produced by Bob Shad, then the head of the Emarcy jazz label. Land quickly moved to Los Angeles and became a key saxophone player on the West Coast scene, recording as a leader for Contemporary and Pacific Jazz Records in the sixties. In 1968, he started a fruitful collaboration with vibe player Bobby Hutcherson forming the Harold Land/Bobby Hutcherson Quintet that would last until 1971. Together they produced several records for Blue Note, Cadet and Mainstream Records.

Shad on his side had set up Mainstream Records in 1962 and spent a good part of the 60s recording psychedelic rock bands - discovering Janis Joplin in the process. in 1971, he decided to go back to his jazz roots and record young emerging talents plus a handful of seasoned musicians from his Emarcy days, including Harold Land. He primarily recorded out of New York City but went to Los Angeles in 1971 with his A&R Ernie Wilkins for a short trip to record a few sessions with the sax player. Shad brought back three albums: two with the Land/Hutcherson Quintet - 'A New Shade of Blue' reissued by Wewantsounds a few years ago and 'Choma' both released in 1971 - and 'Damisi' recorded with Oscar Brashear on Trumpet replacing Hutcherson, released in 1972.

'Damisi', comprised of five extended tracks, kicks off with the up-tempo post bop 'Step Right Up to the Bottom' before switching to the slow burning funk of 'In The Back In The Corner, In the Dark' showcasing Buster Williams' formidable bassline and Ndugu's funk chops. Side 1 ends with "Pakistan", a beautifully serene tribute to the country, full of Eastern influences and featuring Land on Oboe in the reflective tone that would typify his sound

from the late 60s onwards.

Side 2 opens with 'Chocolate Mess' penned by Ndugu Chancler, a muscular funk groove backing great solos by Land, Oscar Brashear (who would soon join Earth Wind & Fire's horn section) and Bill Henderson on Fender Rhodes. 'Damisi" the title track follows up and intricately alternates slow sequences with funkier passages, closing the album on perfect note. A must have for all Harold Land fans who include Kamasi Washington, (Land taught his father) and all 70s Jazz lovers, 'Damisi' catches Land at his creative peak accompanied by a group of first class musicians at the top of their funk game. An album that has become sought-after and which Wewantsounds is now delighted to reissue after more than fifty years.