Grachan Moncur III, New Africa (side A)

As American experimental jazz musicians landed in Europe in the late-60s, their music often grew brash and abstract.  Grachan Moncur III's late-60s albums went in a different direction, as they feel friendlier than his mid-60s US releases.  Where Evolution and Some Other Stuff were often slow and abstract, New Africa's free-spirited energy is more engaging approachable.  Archie Shepp and Roscoe Mitchell avoid abrasive palettes on their saxophones, and Andrew Cyrille's drumming remains fluid and propulsive.  Like Moncur's earlier compositions, the four pieces on 1969's New Africa avoid the head-body structure of jazz standards for a more section based approach that usually begins with Dave Burrell's piano establishing a harmonic content and tempo.  While most pieces involve the players exploring this basic feel, the opening track "New Africa" explores four distinct movements, with changes in tempo and key through the piece.  New Africa never grows as friendly as Moncur's following album, 1970's Aco Dei de Madrugada, with its Brazilian tunes and sidemen. My modern reissue sounds better than the late-60s pressing — the recording quality is simple but competent.  The front photo of Moncur captures his bright outfit, and the remarkable close-up of his face on the back cover captures the energy and vibrancy that he brought this album.