Archive
KHAN JAMAL
Spiritual jazz classic re-emerges
Infinity (reissue, 1984)
JAZZ ROOM
8/10
Noel Gallagher: flying out of his comfort zone
For years, Khan Jamal was known to only the most dedicated of spiritual jazz connoisseurs. But the Philadelphiabased vibraphonist has been getting some long-overdue recognition recently, thanks to reissues of his rare LPs, including 1974’s remarkable, dub-adjacent Drum Dance To The Motherland. The similarly long-out-ofprint Infinity, from about a decade later, isn’t quite as radical as Drum Dance, but is wonderful all the same, with Jamal joined by some talented collaborators – drummer Sunny Murray and alto saxophonist/flautist Byard Lancaster among them. Together, they conjure up a luminous sound that regularly calls to mind Crescent-era Coltrane. Opener “Nubian Queen” floats by on a billowing cloud of vibes and flute, while the moody “The Known Unknown” is a showcase for Jamal’s dazzling skills. Perhaps most interesting are Clifton Burton’s harmonica contributions, suggesting untapped possibilities for the instrument. Throughout, Infinity is fresh and lively, a classic waiting to be discovered.