Wendell Harrison Tribe: Get Up Off Your Knees – Pure Pleasure Records 180g Vinyl

Harrison is continuing Tribe’s legacy—this time around with a group of rising jazz musicians from the Motor City such as drummer Louis M. Jones III, trumpeter Trunino Lowe, and guitarist Jacob Schwantz—on his new recording Get Up Off Your Knees.

There’s a lot to digest here because the original compositions encompass R&B, soul, spoken word, and “world” music, all seen through the lens of jazz. Harrison tends to weave elements of African music into many of his compositions. On “Siera” and “Samoulén Khalé Yi,” both written by vocalist and bassist Pathe Jassi, he pays tribute to Guinea-Bissau and Senegalese culture. “Educators” also has African nuances in its hardcore drumming and Harrison’s sublime blowing on bass clarinet and clarinet.

Any discriminating jazz listener will be consumed by Get Up Off Your Knees, but it seems Harrison’s primary purpose for making this album is to encourage the current generation to put education first and build social awareness. On the title track, vocalist Miche Braden pushes the self-determination angle, which is again highlighted on “Revolution,” a reimagined take on Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” delivered with an adherence to contemporary events by the poet Rev. Mbiyu Chui. By Veronica Johnson from Jazz Times.

Tracklisting

Side A: 1.Turn Around 2.Educators 3.Woo In Tribute (Tribute to Kresge Emminent Artist Marie Woo)

Side B: 1. Get Up Off Your Knees 2.First Love 3.Siera

Side C: 1. Revolution 2. Saga Of A Carrot 3.What’s Up

Side D: 1. Samoulen Khale Yi 2.Wandering Thoughts

All songs composed and arranged by Wendell Harrison except for

Revolution poetry by Mbiyu Chui (William K Moore) & music by Pamela Samiha Wise

Educators poetry by Mbiyu Chui (William K Moore) & music by Wendell Harrison

Siera & Samoulen Khale Yi composed by Pathe Jassi

Produced by Wendell Harrison

Recorded at Tempermill Studios and WenHa Studios in Detroit, MI

Label: Wenha Jazz/Tribe

Cat No: WHR 520