Various : A journey to the dawn (Temposphere)

Theresa Records was possibly the best jazz label of the 70s. With a fold of all-time great artists including Pharoah Sanders, Andy Bey, Bobby Hutcherson and Babatunde, Theresa avoided any semblance of by-the-dozen conveyor-belt jazz and managed to consistently put out cornerstones of a deep, spiritual and above all joyous jazz. Tragically, most of the Theresa albums are now extremely hard to find. Which is why this compilation by Rocco Pandiani and Gilles Peterson hits such a dry spot. And neither throats nor eyes will be left dry after this one.

Most uplifting of all is the classic Pharoah Sanders tune You've got to have freedom, one of his absolute best along with Our roots and Rejoice. Dig that screeching sax theme, the passionate choir singing "you've got to have peace and love", the drums shuffling along to those great piano chords melting into a wonderfully tight and balanced solo, the spacious sax solos underpinned by luscious female vocals. A true jewel. Sanders returns with the wondeful Heart is a melody of time, flying gracefully with spiritual vocals and sax themes. Rejoice is also featured on A journey..., in a 6'53'' edit.

Babatunde and Phenomena take over the down-to-earth spiritual vibe with Use your hands, a spellbinding feelgood mix of equally uplifting vocals and melodies. Damn me if this tune hasn't influenced everyone -even Dexy's Midnight runners (shudder). Babatunde follows up immediately with the excellent fast-paced driving shuffle of Levels of consciousness, interspersed with up with a wonderfully funky bass break and mergin into a great guitar and sax freestyle excursion before running onto an African drum tip.

Ed Kelly & Friend drop their fantastic sunny string & sax funk rotation Pippin- you cannot have summer drinks in the garden without this! Joe Bonner lays down a beautiful slow piano theme accentuated by sporadic female vocals, somewhat reminiscent of Lyle Mays' work for the Pat Metheny Group.

A journey to the dawn is pervaded by peaceful energy and a harmony that should be mandatory for all jazz releases. A sumptuous collection of inevitable timeless classics -without these you will not know what deep jazz is. Take one listen to this every sunny summer morning and your day will be all the brighter. Undiluted joy.

Review by Nicolai Hartvig

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