His final Flying Dutchman: classic jazz-fusion, imbued with Latin rhythms.
His brother Donald is in fine voice throughout, but that’s Lonnie himself singing on the grooving, anthemic opener; a kind of reprise of Expansions.
Next up, Renaissance.
Classy gospel soul, with a drop of funk and a couple of heavy breaks.
Featuring the early-70s Fantasy gang including Bernard Purdie and Richard Tee; The Reflections doing backing vocals; ace horns; Van Gelder engineering.
His masterful 1971 production, marshalling a stunning lineup bringing jazz luminaries like Monty Alexander, Jim Hall, Freddie Hubbard, Jerome Richardson and Jaki Byard together with up and coming names like Grady Tate, Bob James, Joe Sample and Eric Gale. Highlights include a hard-swinging, show-stopping, big-band version of What’s Going On, with Valerie Simpson at the mic; a lovely Cast Your Fate To The Wind; and a couple of funky do-overs of stuff off the TV, in particular Hikky Burr, nailed down by the great Carol Kaye on bass guitar.
Half-speed mastering.
The classic 1970 debut with Beverley Martyn. Rehearsed in Woodstock, with Levon Helm guesting on a couple, Joe Boyd producing. Lovely.
‘From 1971, the first LP the altoist self-produced for his own Altsax label; recorded in the Netherlands during Howard’s second stint in Europe, with an intriguing lineup including Misha Mengelberg and Han Bennink.
‘Howard’s saxophone work alternates between leading with passionate, lyrical lines and blending into the collective improvisation. The dynamic interplay, particularly between Mengelberg’s dissonant piano clusters and Bennink’s thunderous drumming, creates a vivid sound painting full of contrasting forms and colours. Patterns remains one of Howard’s most unique, visionary and celebrated recordings.’