Harlem Bush Music

1997 compilation album by Gary Bartz NTU Troop

Harlem Bush Music is a compilation of two albums by saxophonist Gary Bartz NTU Troop, recorded in 1970 and 1971 and released on the Milestone label.^[1]

Reception

Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr. of AllMusic wrote: "How one finally looks at Harlem Bush Music -- is it music, politics, or something in between -- matters less than understanding the time and place that it was made. And whether one ultimately finds these efforts by the Gary Bartz Ntu Troop satisfying or tiring matters less than appreciating the adventurous spirit that went into making them".^[2] All About Jazz stated: "Harlem Bush Music remains extremely relevant. Though the album came at a time when Black Consciousness and Black Pride were coming to the fore of American culture, current times are such that its message of struggle, love and hope transcends racial categories. That is both a great testament to the power of this music, as well as to the dawning fact in this country that we're all in this together".^[5]

Track listing

All compositions by Gary Bartz except as indicated

1. "Rise" – 5:28
2. "People Dance" – 10:35
3. "Du (Rain)" – 4:17
4. "Drinking Song" (Gary Bartz, Maxine Bartz) – 5:17
5. "Taifa" (Gary Bartz, Maxine Bartz) – 4:21
6. "Parted" (Paul Laurence Dunbar) – 2:04
7. "The Warriors' Song" – 6:09
8. "Blue (A Folk Tale)" – 18:05
9. "Uhuru Sasa" – 6:48
10. "Vietcong" (Hakim Jami) – 5:16
11. "Celestial Blues" (Andy Bey) – 7:34
12. "The Planets" – 5:08

• Originally released as Harlem Bush Music: Taifa on Milestone 9031 (tracks 1–7) and Harlem Bush Music: Uhuru on Milestone 9032 (tracks 8–12).

Personnel

• Gary Bartz – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, vocals, narration, piano
• Andy Bey – vocals (tracks 1–5)
• Juni Booth (tracks 1–7 & 10), Ron Carter (tracks 8, 9, 11 & 12) – bass, electric bass
• Harold White – drums
• Nat Bettis – percussion

References

1. Gary Bartz Selected Discography Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine accessed February 10, 2015
2. Lankford, R. D., AllMusic Review, February 10, 2015
3. Jones, Bob (April 1997). "Gary Bartz NTU Troop: Harlem Bush Music/Tafia And Uhuru" (PDF). Muzik. No. 23. p. 120. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
4. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 20. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
5. AAJ Staff, All About Jazz Review, December 29, 2004