The albums “Schizophrenic Blues” and “Berlin” by Noah Howard were re-released in January 2025 , as vinyls by Trost Records in cooperation with Berlin’s FMP label.
recorded by Jost Gebers,
live on May 21st & 22nd,1977 at the Quartier Latin, Berlin
Trost Records proudly announces the latest release in its ongoing cooperation with Berlin’s legendary FMP label, with the long overdue reissue of two classic live albums by the singular alto saxophonist Noah Howard, a key figure in New York’s free jazz revolution during the 1960s.
Berlin Concert was recorded live in the titular city in January of 1975 with a quartet featuring pianist Takashi Kako, bassist Kent Carter, drummer Oliver Johnson, and percussionist Lamont Hampton, while Schizophrenic Blues was a quartet date taped live in Berlin in May of 1977 with a quartet comprising Oliver Johnson, bassist Jean-Jacques Avenel, and trumpeter Itaru Oki.
Both titles were released on the SAJ sub label in 1977 and 1978, respectively.
These two albums deftly capture the full diapason of Howard’s fiery art. Fueled by the propulsive swing of the great Oliver Johnson, bassist Kent Carter—both Americans who spent many years living and working in Europe.
“Live At The Swing Club Torino Italy” by Noah Howard Quartetto repressed by Eating Standing Recordings in 2014 and available as limited edition with handcrafted sleeve, special insert with life and music by Noah Howard and extended liner notes by Tony Higgins, established English music popularizer at the center of the new international jazz flow.
It was in April 1974 that Howard cut the ‘Live at the Swing Club’ in Turin, for Calumet Records. The session features Howard alongside Michael Smith on piano, Noel McGhie on drums and Bob Reid on bass. This was a very busy period for Howard, and he cut a series of albums for a variety of labels including ‘Live in Europe’ (featuring a epic version of Trane’s ‘Olé’), ‘Berlin Concert’, ‘Red Star’ (featuring bebop legend Kenny Clarke), and ‘Schizophrenic Blues’. In 1977, Howard wrote ‘Message to South Africa’. It was composed the week South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko was killed and the 1979 Paris recording coalesced around two key South African-in exile jazz artists: pianist Chris McGregor and bassist Johnny Dyani. McGregor and Dyani had both been founding members of the leading South African jazz group The Blue Notes.
Vinyl is available in all best record stores worldwide and on eatingstanding.bandcamp.com
(currently sold out – Restock soon)
“Space dimension” by Noah Howard repressed by Eating Standing Recordings in 2020 and available as limited edition with handcrafted sleeve, special insert with life and music by Noah Howard and extended liner notes by Tony Higgins, established English music popularizer at the center of the new international jazz flow.
America Records was to be home to Howard’s third album, ‘Space Dimension’. On this album, Frank Wright was reunited with Howard once more, and Wright also composed one track, ‘Church Number Nine’ (Wright would also do his own version as the title track on his 1970 album, initially only released in Japan. That album would also feature Howard.) ‘Space Dimension’ also features bop drummer Art Taylor on three tracks, with Muhammed Ali (brother of Rashid), on one. They’re joined by alongside pianist Bobby Few, longtime member of Frank Wright’s group and an alumnus of Archie Shepp’s band.
‘Space Dimension’ has never seen an official reissue since its original release in 1970 and remains, among a few aficionados, one of the most in demand – and little known – albums in Howard’s discography. The blend of free improvisation with a tough rhythmic foundation make for an edifying listening experience. The spectral disjointed afro-blues of the title track, with Howard’s soaring, searing horn, introduces an exceptional album of weight and significance, a real statement piece. ‘Viva Black’ starts as a lush groove, rich with texture and tone. Bobby Few’s piano is sparse and disciplined, allowing space for the interweaving angles of the horns and drums to cross and jostle and build in intensity, with Muhammad Ali’s drum solo acting as a cathartic release.
‘Song for Poets’ is blistering in its attack, an intense assault from the whole group – urgent and imperative, a call to action that seemed to resonate with the tumult of the late 60s and early 70s and, perhaps, still resonates now. The album closes with the extended piece ‘Blues for Thelma’. It starts like a sort of angular, shattered New Orleans first line march band; Howard visceral horn and Few’s piano joust and punch like fighters in a ring; Ali’s drums hammer a solid undertow of power and energy, relentless in its fire. All in all, ‘Space Dimension’ announced Howard’s arrival into a new decade, a decade that was to see not just jazz but music and wider society undergo profound change.
Vinyl is available in all best record stores worldwide and on eatingstanding.bandcamp.com
(currently sold out – Restock soon)
Re-release of “Patterns” on Vinyl in 2024.
Noah Howard
By Aguirre records -Belgium / licensed by Eremite
Aguirre has produced a beautiful new edition of “patterns”, with new liner notes & newly remastered audio
Will be launched 5th May 2025
