
Jazz is filled with many cosmic and influential yet unrecognized men and women. This morning we start you off with a track from a Detroit trumpeter by the name of Marcus Belgrave. Like a lot of guys, he paid his dues by playing with famous musical acts such as Sammy Davis Jr. and Ray Charles (just to name two of them), but its his stunning work as a band leader that seems to get lost in the ages. In the early 1970's jazz was becoming more political, more obscure, more far-out, and seemingly vanishing from the States only to reemerge in Europe and other areas. Belgrave released a cosmic album titled Gemini II in 1974 (and would not go on to release another until 1992), that has been inspirational to many musicians working today. Much of what Belgrave accomplishes on Gemini II is of its era without question, but the 1970's was a very lush and experimental time for jazz (and currently an expensive niche in vinyl collecting). Belgrave has worked with the likes of electronic music legend (and fellow Detroiter)
Carl Craig and Detroit producer
Karriem Riggins (just to name two modern musical entities), and continues to be active in music as a visiting staff member at
Oberlin Conservatory. We won't bore you with anymore histrionics, do your own research, and make your judgments and enjoy these trippy, bizarro gems from defiant artists Ornette Coleman, Miles Davis, and Sun Ra. Have a cosmic Sunday wherever you may be...