SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY STAGE BAND - Soul Session ALVIN BATISTE / JAMES BLACK DRUMS

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THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY STAGE BAND – In a Soul Session (1968) Whit-711 – M-/Strong VG+ (cover/vinyl)

Alvin Batiste has always been the premier leader when it comes to the modal and experimental jazz scene of New Orleans and Louisiana. As the musical director for Southern University in Baton Rouge, the state’s capitol, Batiste long directed the university’s music department, which included its jazz ensembles and world-renowned marching band. This particular performance is a live recording that was one set of a larger performance. This is their stage band covering many of the national soul hits of the day, including tracks like “Dock of the Bay,” “Misty,” “Respect (Parts I & II), “Nearer,” “Ain’t No Way,” “Next Time,” “Who Can I Turn To,” and “Ole Wine.” The legendary Clyde Kerr arranged all but two tracks.

Here’s why this is a special album – the incredible James Black is the featured drummer (and he arranges one track as well), and the other New Orleans legend, the great Henry Butler, plays piano. Can you imagine these guys in school in ’68 performing this stuff?!?! Amazing. There’s a large horn section of sax, trumpet, trombone, and tuba, and the rhythm section also features Howard L. Nixon on piano, Herman Jackson on drums, Walter Harris on guitar, and Mary Holmes and Merle Spears as vocalists. The recording is kind of low fidelity, like it was mic’ed from around the stage and the audience, but the audio is still pretty decent. This is a genuine historical document and an amazing piece of New Orleans musical heritage. On top of that, it’s super rare!

This is a very strong and nice copy. The cover is tight and crisp and beautiful with basically no wear. The back cover slick is still nice and white with almost no signs of age. The thick vinyl is clean and glossy with just a few minor scuffs – nothing really significant although there may be some stray noise that is minimally audible. You are not likely to find another copy of this! I grade this conservatively: M-/Strong VG+ (cover/vinyl) – both toward the high-end of the grade.

This is an original pressing. I do not sell modern reissues.

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