Creative Arts Ensemble with B.J.Crowley One Step Out

180g High Quality Pressing!
Re-mastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering!
Nimbus West spirit jazz essential: the Creative Arts Ensemble's classic debut One Step Out. One of the most sought after and highly-regarded titles to have appeared on Tom Albach's celebrated Nimbus West imprint, One Step Out is a timeless work of spiritualized jazz. A true gem from the Los Angeles jazz underground, the album was pianist and composer Kaeef Ruzadun Ali's first recording as leader of the Creative Arts Ensemble, the only large ensemble group that emerged directly from Horace Tapscott's legendary Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra community jazz group.
A Los Angeles native, Kaeef was introduced to the Tapscott circle in the late 1970s. His first experience of the Arkestra's ethos was through PAPA tenorist Michael Session, who took him to the famous "Great House" at 2412 South Western Ave., LA - a large mansion house which members of the Arkestra had taken over as a space for communal living. Life in the Great House was a continuous stream of music, dance and community events.
"One Step Out" is the debut album of the Creative Arts Ensemble, released by Nimbus West and to this day one of the most sought-after and highly regarded titles of the label. The album is a timeless work of underground jazz from Los Angeles by and with pianist and composer Kaeef Ruzadun. He plays with the Creative Arts Ensemble, the group that emerged from Horace Tapscott's legendary Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra.
Kaeef became part of the Tapscott circle in the late 1970s. His first encounter with the Arkestra ethos took place in the famous "Great House", a large house that the members of the band had adopted as a place for their life together. Life there consisted of a never-ending succession of music, dance and community events. Inspired by this model and the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Kaeef followed this path and became the leader of his own band. "One Step Out" is a key work of radical, independent underground jazz.
"When I walked in there," recalled Kaeef, "it was like this whole rush came over me, just from going in the front door - It was like a very, very warm feeling of love. I went and I came out with 'Flashback Of Time,' and that was my first arrangement."
Kaeef quickly became a significant contributor of compositions to the Arkestra's songbook - his piece "New Horizon" would be recorded by Horace Tapscott for the latter's Tapscott Sessions series. But "Flashback Of Time" would eventually appear on One Step Out, played by the new group he had put together from stalwart Arkestra members.
Inspired by both Tapscott's example and by the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Kaeef had wanted to follow their lead by assembling a larger unit. Featuring seasoned Arkestra regulars including reedsman Dadisi Komolafe, drummer Woody "Sonship" Theus and altoist Gary Bias, with veterans Henry "The Skipper" Franklin on bass and George Bohannon on trombone, One Step Out is a key document of the Los Angeles radical jazz underground. Featuring the sanctified vocals of Kaeef's sister, B. J. Crowley, the album is a tour de force of spiritually energized independent jazz music.

Features:

• 180g Vinyl
• Re-mastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London
• First time on vinyl since 1981
• Made in the UK

Musicians:

• Kaeef Ruzadun, Piano, Leader
• B.J. Crowley (Shaleethia), Vocals, Co-leader
• (Jiggs) Wilbert Hemsley, Tenor Saxophone
• Gary Bias, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone
• Dadesi Komolafe, Flute
• George Bohannon, Trombone
• Jeff Clayton, Baritone Saxophone
• Al White, Trumpet
• (The Skipper) Henry Franklin, Bass
• SonShip Phaeus, Drums, Percussion

Selections:

Side A
1. One Step Out
2. Flashback Of Time
Side B
1. All Praises Due
2. Stars In Lightyear Time