The Piano Choir “Handscape 2”

The Piano Choir

Handscape 2

Strata East (US) 1980

SES-19750 (LP)

sleeve : VG+(SPSE/TOC: crack and tape on bottom, wear on edge and corner, light dirts.)

media : EX-/EX-(some light noises.)

Second album by The Piano Choir, a group of many pianists active on the American avant-jazz scene, released in 1975. Ron Burton replaced Danny Mixon on the first album, Handscapes, and was joined by Stanley Cowell, Nat Jones, Hugh Lawson, Webster Lewis, Harold Mabern and Sonelius Smith. The band is made up of seven members. This is a masterpiece of space-age-like crossover jazz that is quite different from the images of Strata East label, featuring synthesisers as well as acoustic piano in a big way, and incorporating retro-futuristic sounds. The refreshingly cool Cowell-composed B1 at the end of the album is exceptional. This is a 1980’s US reissue.

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