SHAW, CHA CHA - KINGDOM COME (LP)

"'Kingdom Come' was his second album for Smithsonian Folkways back in 1979, and the opener 'Melted Soul' sets the tone for the LP - a tripped out mixture of funky heavy drums, echoey guitars and modal piano that sounds like some late 70's Sun Ra jam, and is far too short for it's own good. Elsewhere though, Charles loosens out into extended tracks, namely 'Kid Zaro', 'Right On', and 'Mr Zip', at times sounding like Phil Cohran or Joe McPhee, but keeping a distinct AEC or Black Renaissance style funk to proceedings. 'Kingdom Come' is Cha Cha Shaw's search to find the common melodies in different disparate styles, and combines abstract free jazz tones with spiritual gospel modes, while jamming over late 70's funk back beats. Way ahead of his time, and still taking cha-cha-chances." (label info)