Bill Lewis/Khan Jamal – the river


Here’s a great duo record from 1978 on Philly Jazz records, Bill Lewis plays the vibraphone and Khan Jamal plays the marimba. This album basically consists of three long mellow tracks, “the river”, “the vanishing man” and “as salim”. I think the liner notes sum it up best: “The music on this album is called jazz or black classical music or the new music or avante garde. The name is not important; it is grass roots, the music of the people. I feel that it tells the story of the struggle of all people. In dealing with music, one must remember that there is more to music than what the eyes or ears can percieve.” Overall this is a very nice introspective album that I can’t get enough of.

5 Comments

  • miss damn says:

    i love this record! it’s been a while since i played it. but i used to fall asleep to ‘the vanishing man’ all the time, only to be jarred awake by the sudden vibraphone attack on the next track. in a way it reminded me to not let the record go on all nite and ruin my needle.

  • dr.lloyd says:

    Ooh, I’d love to hear some of this. KJ’s ‘The Known Unknown’ is such a great track and he has this great way with song titling.
    dr.lloyd
    http://dr.lloyd.free.fr

  • Antoine says:

    This is a fantastic record indeed !
    I just produced an album by Khan for French label Isma’a/Discograph last year with more afro/latin backgrounds but with his ‘trademarks’ cosmic tones and melodies taking you in a far away dimension ….
    Antoine

  • Gordon danis says:

    I was watching the tape back at the WXPN studios when this was recorded, so I played a minor link in it happening. Another record I’d just LOVE to have on CD and not rot away

  • Russell Woessner says:

    I have a copy of the original tape of this concert, including another entire set that was recorded but not released.

    Hey, Gordon! Drop me a line!

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