JAYNE CORTEZ AND THE FIRESPITTERS – THERE IT IS (BOLA PRESS, 1982)

A1. There It Is
A2. U.S. / Nigerian Relations
A3. I See Chano Pozo
A4. Skin Diver

B1. Opening Act
B2. If The Drum Is A Woman
B3. To A Gypsy Cab Man
B4. Blood Suckers


Jamaaladeen Tacuma, bass
Farel Johnson Jr, bongo, bells, congas
Abraham Adzinyah, congas
Denardo Coleman, drums
Bern Nix, guitar
Charles Moffett Jr, tenor saxophone
Bill Cole, shenai, musette, korean sona
Jayne Cortez, poetry


Recorded July 22, 1982 at O.A.O. Studio, Brooklyn, New York

Bola Press - BP-8201

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JAYNE CORTEZ & THE FIRESPITTERS ‎– BORDERS OF DISORDERLY TIME (BOLA PRESS, 2003)

1.  Sunny Side Of The Page
2.  Pocket Trumpet
3.  Afro Spot
4.  Beautiful Sea Of Waves
5.  In The Morning
6.  About Flyin' Home
7.  A Miles Davis Trumpet
8.  Dialogue On Violence
9.  Mr. Louie
10. Know Your Reality
11. Somewhere A Woman Is Singing
12. What's Your Take


Sam Furnance, alto saxophone
T.K. Blue, alto saxophone
Alex Harding, baritone saxophone
Al MacDowell, bass
Charnett Moffett, bass
Ron Carter, bass
Denardo Coleman, drums
Bern Nix, guitar
James "Blood" Ulmer, guitar
Jan Cherry, violin
Frank Lowe, tenor saxophone
Jayne Cortez, poetry


Recorded on 26 May, 29 July and 23 August 2002 at Harmolodic Studios, NY

Bola Press ‎– BLP2003

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JAYNE CORTEZ & THE FIRESPITTERS ‎– TAKING THE BLUES BACK HOME (HARMOLODIC, VERVE RECORDS, 1996)

1.  Taking The Blues Back Home
2.  Bumblebee, You Saw Big Mama
3.  Mojo 96
4.  Cultural Operations
5.  The Guitars I Used To Know
6.  Talk To Me (For Don Cherry)
7.  I Have Been Searching
8.  Global Inequalities
9.  Blues Bop For Diz
10. You Can Be
11. Endangered Species List Blues
12. Nobody Knows A Thing



Talib Kibwe, alto saxophone
Al MacDowell, bass
Denardo Coleman, drums
Bern Nix, guitar
Carl Weathersby, guitar
Billy Branch, harmonica
Nakoyo Suso, vocals
Abdoulaye Epizo Bangoura, djembe
Salieu Suso, kora
Sarjo Kuyateh, kora
Frank Lowe, tenor saxophone
Jayne Cortez, poetry


Recorded and mixed at Harmolodic Studios, Harlem, NY.

Harmolodic ‎– 531 918 2, Verve Records ‎– 531 918 2

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JAYNE CORTEZ ‎– EVERYWHERE DRUMS (BOLA PRESS, 1990)

1.  Adupe
2.  Maybe
3.  Drying Spit Blues
4.  What's Happening
5.  Make Ifa
6.  Stockpiling
7.  Firespitters
8.  Everybody Wants To Be Somebody
9.  Push Back The Catastrophes
10. Nelson Mandela Is Coming 2
11. Everywhere Drums



Talib Kibwe, alto and soprano saxophone
Al MacDowell, bass
Denardo Coleman, drums
Ed Blackwell, drums (2, 11)
Bern Nix, guitar
Bill Cole, Korean hojok
Adzenyah Donno, talking drum, congas, percussion
Abraham Kobena, talking drum, congas, percussion
Frank Lowe, tenor saxophone
Jayne Cortez, poetry



Recorded at Sound Ideas Studios, NYC, on 21 June 1990.

Bola Press ‎– BP9001

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JAYNE CORTEZ & THE FIRESPITTERS ‎– CHEERFUL & OPTIMISTIC (BOLA PRESS, 1994)

1.  Hello Everybody
2.  Samba Is Power
3.  I Wonder Who
4.  She Got He Got
5.  War Devoted To War
6.  Find Your Own Voice
7.  Sacred Trees
8.  I'm Gonna Shake
9.  Into This Time
10. I Got The Blues
11. Cheerful & Optimistic


Talib Kibwe, alto and soprano saxophone
Al MacDowell, bass
Denardo Coleman, drums
Bern Nix, guitar
James Carter, baritone saxophone
Abdoulaye Epizo Bangoura, djembe
Salieu Suso, kora
Sarjo Kuyateh, kora
Frank Lowe, tenor saxophone
Jayne Cortez, poetry


Recorded at Polarity, NYC, on 22 February and 14 March 1994.

Bola Press ‎– BP9401

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JAYNE CORTEZ – UNSUBMISSIVE BLUES (BOLA PRESS, 1980)

A1. You Know
A2. For The Brave Young Students In Soweto
A3. Ogun´s Friend

B1. Brooding
B2. In The Morning
B3. The Red Pepper Poets


Denardo Coleman, drums
Bern Nix, guitar
Bill Cole, muzette, nagaswarm
Joe Daley, tuba
Jayne Cortez, poetry


Bola Press – BP-8001

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JAYNE CORTEZ AND THE FIRESPITTERS – MAINTAIN CONTROL (BOLA PRESS, 1986)

I was preparing this post for a request from May 2012, when I found,sadly, that Jayne Cortez died on 28 December 2012. A powerful poet, both in writing and performance, and a civil rights activist, Jayne released numerous books and albums. Her first album as leader was with Richard Davis on bass (Celebrations and Solitudes, Strata-East). Many later albums were written with her band, The Firespitters, produced with her son, Denardo Coleman, and featured leading free jazz and African musicians.

Obituary

Rest in peace

Jayne Cortez, poetry
Al MacDowell, bass
Bern Nix, guitar
Denardo Coleman, percussion
Charles Moffett Jr, tenor saxophone

Ornette Coleman, alto saxophone (A4)
Abdul Wadud, cello (B4)

A1. Maintain Control     3:40    
A2. Economic Love Song     2:03    
A3. Tell Me     5:13    
A4. No Simple Explanations     6:59    
A5. Briefing     5:21    

B1. Kai Kai (For The Poets)     4:42    
B2. Deadly Radiation Blues     4:30    
B3. Chocolate     4:50    
B4. Commitment     4:07    
B5. Everything Is Wonderful     1:48    

Bola Press – BP-8601

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