The Descendants Of Mike And Phoebe A Spirit Speaks

Audiophile 180g Vinyl!
The Descendants of Mike & Phoebe is a group named after their slave ancestors. Percussionists Billy Higgins and Sonny Brown join the Lee Family members for this one-of-a-kind album of legendary jazz.
An outstanding, unique album by the Strata East label – which really means something considering the creative energies that this legendary jazz label stands for! "Descendents Of Mike & Phoebe" is a down-to-earth little project put together by Spike Lee's father Bill Lee and in which his brothers and sisters (Cliff Lee, Grace Lee Mims and Consuela Lee Moorhead) work together as a group. This is named after their ancestors, who were slaves, and are honored with beautifully flowing melodies!
Lee's round, warm bass sounds lead the way on most of the tracks – recorded on a similar level to his excellent work with Clifford Jordan on Strata East at the same time; other instrumentations include Consuela with the piano, Cliff with the flugelhorn, and Sonny Brown and Billy Higgins with percussion – all of whom work together in a wonderful, moving style that is even better than some of Lee's later work. On some pieces you can hear Grace singing – singing without words of a truly heavenly quality. As a whole, the group has an undeniable sense of power and majestic impact, but at the same time is touched by a very personal sense of poetry. Among the titles is also a great version of Lee's "Coltrane", with the recording with Clifford Jordan being the more famous.
"One of the most unique albums on the Strata East label and that's saying a heck of a lot, given the creative energies flowing through that legendary jazz outlet! Descendents Of Mike & Phoebe is a righteous little project put together by Spike Lee's father, Bill Lee, and his brothers and sisters (Cliff Lee, Grace Lee Mims, and Consuela Lee Moorhead) working here in a group named after their slave ancestors, who are paid tribute in a beautifully flowing batch of tunes! Lee's round, warm bass tones are firmly at the head of the group on most numbers recorded at a similar level to his excellent work with Clifford Jordan on Strata East during the same time and other instrumentation includes piano from Consuela, flugelhorn from Cliff, and percussion from Sonny Brown and Billy Higgins all used in a wonderfully evocative style that's even better than some of Lee's later soundtrack work. A few numbers feature vocals from Grace singing wordlessly and with a really heavenly sort of quality and together, the whole group have an undeniable sense of power and majesty, yet also one that's touched by a really personal sense of poetry too. Titles include a great version of Lee's "Coltrane", which was more famously recorded with Clifford Jordan."- Drago Museveni

Features:

• 180g Vinyl
• Re-mastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering
• Made in the UK

Musicians:

• Consuela Lee Moorhead, piano
• Bill Lee, string bass
• A. Grace Lee Mims, soprano
• Clif Lee, fluegelhorn
• Sonny Brown, percussionist
• Billy Higgins, percussionist

Selections:

Side A
1. Two Songs For A Boy Named Mark:
a. Little Bitty Baby
b. Soliloquy To A Man-Child
2. Coltrane
3. Chick Chick
4. Well Done Weldon
5. A Spirit Speaks
Side B
1. Attica
2. Take My Hand, Precious Lord
3. Boll Weevil
4. Don't Be A Stranger
5. Too Little, Too Late

Recorded December 19, 20 & 21, 1973 at Minot Studios, White Plains, NY