Chicago's The Awakening is the only non solo artist to be featured on the fabled Black Jazz label. The Bay Area based Black Jazz label was formed in the early 70s by pianist Gene Russell with the intent to give spotlight to emerging jazz players. The label managed to release over 20 albums until fading into obscurity in the mid 70s. The emergence of acid jazz and crate digging culture sparked new interest in Black Jazz in the 1990s. At which that time the masters fell into the hands of an entrepreneur who later put the label's masters for sale on Craigslist!? There was a rather disturbing and hilarious thread on Soul Strut in 2011.
As for this record, this is the second and final release from the band commanded by ballsy acoustic bass, funky Rhodes work, and a tight horn section as evident on jazz funk cuts like "Slinky" , "Mode for D.D." , and "March On". The rest is your standard spiritual soul jazz.
SOUL STRUT