This is the second set of duets by Archie Shepp (doubling on tenor and soprano) and pianist Horace Parlan after an earlier SteepleChase set titled Goin' Home. It features the duo on blues-oriented pieces from the 1920s. It is particularly interesting to hear Shepp, best known for his ferocious free jazz performances of the mid- to late '60s, adjusting his sound to these songs.

• Audiophile 180 Gram Vinyl
• SteepleChase Audiophile Vinyl Series

A companion volume to the previous year’s gospel infused Goin’ Home album , Trouble in Mind continues the same pairing of Shepp and Parlan, but mining a different vein of Afro-American musical expression: “The Blues”.

If some critics judged this the lesser of the two works it is perhaps because the blues formula is more limited, often a three chord 12-bar groove, leaving the tunes musically closer to each other than the gospel outing. That is how blues works, expression within a traditional format . The works are complementary.

Shepp once again works the interchange between a singing and an instrumental voice, almost lead-guitar driven, clipped phrases culminating in a vibrato sustain, ascending the upper register to climax, the tenor rasps with guitar-like distortion, and a “cry” only a breath-driven instrument can produce.

The artistic intent is clearly to honour the blues tradition, and its roots in black history, without actually spilling over into a blues band performance. As a result Parlan avoids any kitsch barellhouse blues manner, keeping an even hold on the songs with a grand concert style, still bluesy but leaving the blues voice principally to Shepp, a finely judged balance. It is a fitting companion to Goin’ Home, both are must have titles.

Musicians:

Archie Shepp – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Horace Parlan – piano

Track Listing:

01. Backwater Blues
02. Trouble In Mind
03. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
04. Careless Love Blues
05. How Long Blues
06. Goin' Down Slow
07. Courthouse Blues
08. See See Rider
09. Make Me A Pallet On The Floor
10. St. James Infirmary

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫