Last week, while digging at a thrift shop, I came across a large Latin collection. Almost entirely made up of Ranchera and Norteno music - fascinating (love those uniforms and bigote's!), though largely lost on me. But in the middle of the stack was En Medio. On Impulse? OK, I'm buying this. Wasn't quite sure what to expect when the needle dropped, but it most certainly wasn't this. From the John Coltrane-ish opening notes, I knew this was going to be a special outing - as long as the saxophone is kept in check. Los Angeles based pianist Saracho made sure of just that too. In any case, I made a beeline to the Kozmigroov list to learn more about this album. What.... it's not there? Then I checked to see if my jazz leaning Gnosis buddies knew about it. Nope - just a few grades from the more eclectic listeners. What the heck is going on? While researching the title at hand, I'm mucho enjoying the superb noirish jazz thrust upon me - with a definitive Latin perspective.
Until Side 2. The 14+ minute 'Señor Baker'. Wait, what, excuse me? I managed to get to 2021 without ever hearing about, knowing, having been referenced, or any other kind of hint, innuendo, or sidebar that this even existed. We are talking a deeeeeeeep Latin funk groove, with wailing fuzz guitar, and a hypnotic rhythm section that reminded me a bit of the Joe Henderson album that we just talked about. I-I-I-I just don't even know what to say here. We're in Wolfgang Dauner territory mixed with some early 70s Miles Davis, Reggie Lucas, John Abercrombie's Friends, Lotus-era Santana, and classic Embryo. Did I get your attention? That was the plan. Best personal discovery of 2021 so far. Get this.
Ownership: LP: 1973 Impulse/ABC. Gatefold. Acquired as noted above.
Obscure, but not that obscure, even though I couldn't even find it on YouTube. Word still hasn't gotten out about this, or so it would appear. As such, LP copies can still be had for a reasonable price. Never reissued in any format* (though a South African press exits (?!)). Found an excellent recent article about Saracho which includes how this album was created, and the bad timing of it all. The pressing was limited due to geopolitical events. My copy has a promo sticker appended, though the label doesn't state it is. This would be the only album from Saracho. What a pity.
*Reissued on LP as part of RSD in 2022. I wonder if this review had any influence? Probably not, but interesting the timing.
3/9/21 (new entry)
3/9/21 (new entry)
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