# CD review: Archie Shepp: The Way Ahead, Kwanza, The Magic Of Ju-Ju Revisited 2023: Video, CD cover

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2023/01/14/cd-review-archie-shepp-the-way-ahead-kwanza-the-magic-of-ju-ju-revisited-2023-video-cd-cover/
- Published: 2023-01-14T00:04:32+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**An unusual package – one that features the full album The Way Ahead, plus tracks
from other late 60s Archie Shepp sessions too! **

The Way Ahead has tenor giant Archie Shepp in prime form – working with a sextet
that’s awash in avant freedoms, but which always shows a great sense of restraint–
just the right power gained from the new modes of jazz expression, as the players
dance together beautifully on a razor’s edge of personal creativity and ensemble
exploration.

Players here include Grachan Moncur on trombone, Jimmy Owens on trumpet, Ron Carter
on bass, and Beaver Harris and Roy Haynes on drums – and the album also features
the first piano player on most of the Shepp albums on Impulse – Walter Davis Jr,
making a rare outside appearance with the group! Titles include the classic track“
Frankenstein”, plus “Fiesta”, “Damn If I Know (The Stroller)”, and “Sophisticated
Lady” – all nice and long! Next are two tracks from the Kwanza album – with a lineup
that includes Charles Davis on baritone, Grachan Moncur on trombone, Jimmy Owens
on trumpet, and Dave Burrell on piano – on the titles “New Africa” and “Bakai”.

Last on the CD is the side-long gem “Magic Of Juju” – a set that has an unusual 
group with Martin Banks on trumpet, Michael Zwerin on trombone, Reggie Workman on
bass, and both Norman Connors and Beaver Harris on drums – plus Ed Blackwell on 
rhythm logs, Franck Charles on talking drums, and Dennis Charles on added percussion!

Three albums and three distinct groupings in this essential remaster & reissue of
two late 60s and one 70s Impulse! albums from saxophonist and composer Archie Shepp,
in configurations of septets and nonets with luminaries of the day performing Shepp’s
rhythm-centric jazz focused on the Afrocentric experience, drawing on blues and 
spirituals in free jazz settings._

**Tracklist**

1. Damn If I Know (The Stroller) 6:19
 2. Frankenstein 13:54 3. Fiesta 9:59 4. Sophisticated
Lady 7:12 5. New Africa 12:55 6. Bakai 10:07 7. The Magic Of Ju-Ju 18:38

**Archie Shepp-tenor saxophone**
 **Jimmy Owens-trumpet** **Grachan Moncur III-trombone****
Walter Davis-piano** **Ron Carter-double bass** **Beaver Harris-drums** **Roy Haynes-
drums** **Charles Davis-baritone saxophone** **Dave Burrell-piano** **Walter Booker-
double bass** **Martin Banks-trumpet, flugelhorn** **Michael Zwerin-trumpet, trombone****
Reggie Workman-double bass** **Norman Connors-drums** **Ed Blackwell-rhythm logs****
Franck Charles-talking drums** **Denis Charles-percussion**

![](https://i0.wp.com/f4.bcbits.com/img/a4094795543_16.jpg?resize=640%2C640&ssl=
1)

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