Music of the Sea Ensemble, We Move Together (side A)

Perhaps from Donald Rafael Garrett's involvement with major jazz players like John Coltrane, 1971's We Move Together is often remembered as a jazz album.  In a way, it makes sense—the Sea Ensemble sometimes resemble Don Cherry's ethnic explorations, Pharoah Sanders's introspection, Sun Ra's cosmic chaos, and perhaps the Art Ensemble's work with "little instruments".  We Move Together, though, frequently lacks any pulse or hint of harmonic development.  Despite the obvious talent and experience of the players, it seems sincerely naïve and awkward, as reflected by the simple illustration on the cover.  This record is sometimes tied to the abstract folk-psych movement that sprung up in the mid-90s, and groups like Tower Recordings and even the Shadow Ring (who paid obvious homage to the "Music of the" moniker) owe a clear debt to the Sea Ensemble.