Nate Morgan - Journey Into Nigritia / Pure Pleasure

At the dawn of the Reagan years, Los Angeles-born jazz pianist Nate Morgan recorded his first album for Nimbus West. "Journey Into Nigritia" portrays an artist influenced by the icons of his time and striving to reinvent himself.

Although he had a solid jazz background and rose through the Pan Afrikan People's Arkestra, Morgan found more exciting work with pop bands in the seventies, including glorious years with Rufus & Chaka Khan. On "Journey Into

Nigritia," however, Morgan returns to jazz. Joining the band are Jeff Littleton on bass, Fritz Wise on drums and Dadisi Komolafe on alto sax.

The LP opens with "Mrafu," which shows influences from John Coltrane. Komolafe gets right to work, and while the modal chords are reminiscent of McCoy Tyner, Morgan flashes the percussiveness that distinguishes him. Perfumed

by Alice Coltrane incense, Morgan's devoted sincerity and personal expression triumph in "Morning Prayer." Appropriately complex with wistful minor tones, the trio presents a memorable composition in "Mother." Littleton's low tones

contrast with Wise's shimmering cymbals as Morgan tells a heartbreaking truth. With a somewhat solemn theme, "He Left Us A Song" periodically breaks in and out of straight fastbreak sprints. The unexpected "Study In C.T." pays

homage to Cecil Taylor and Morgan's musical roots with free improvisations over a dense, sharp-edged theme. The exhilarating result lets Morgan explore his own path, with a tongue-in-cheek interspersion of jagged bass chords midway

through the piece.

Though looking back on the experiences of the last quarter-century Morgan's prodigious gifts extend beyond the prodigy status of this ambitious debut, "Journey Into Nigritia" offers interesting insights into Morgan's artistic development and

adds another valuable track to the discography of one of the most underrated greats of our time.

- Review by Rex Butters

We recommend the use of "L'Art du Son" LP cleaner to wet wash your vinyl. Even new records of high quality production will benefit from this.

Title

Side A

1. Mrafu

2. Morning Prayer

3. Mother

Side B

1. Journey Into Nigritia

2. He left us a Song

3. Study in C.T