The Black Ark cover

The Black Ark

Released

After two albums for the ESP-Disk’ label, alto saxophonist Noah Howard painted his masterpiece. This 1969 recording features four compositions that range from soulful grooves to an Asian-inspired piece to a mournful ballad, all played with commitment, even fervor, especially tenor saxophonist Arthur Doyle, who makes his debut and comes out of the gate screaming in a post-Pharoah Sanders style that will enthrall some and send others running.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Live Volume V cover

Live Volume V

Fred Anderson
Thoughts cover

Thoughts

Bill Dixon
Oblique cover

Oblique

Bobby Hutcherson
Pathways & Passages cover

Pathways & Passages

Cosmic Vibrations, Dwight Trible
Blue to Red cover

Blue to Red

Chip Wickham
Ubique cover

Ubique

Claire Chase, Cory Smythe, Katinka Kleijn, Seth Parker Woods
Flat-Out Jump Suite cover

Flat-Out Jump Suite

Julius Hemphill
The Trance of Seven Colors cover

The Trance of Seven Colors

Maleem Mahmoud Ghania, Pharoah Sanders