Procession of the Great Ancestry CD (Nessa Records) Paintings acclaimed music critic Ben Ratliff

acclaimed music critic Ben Ratliff discusses with jazz greats the recordings that most influenced them and skillfully coaxes out a profound understanding of the men and women themselves

Oliver Lake (alto sax

far from his family’s native Calcutta

"I Insist" emphasizes the importance of music as a means of self-expression and communal connection

with added depth and adventurousness

Procession of the Great Ancestry CD (Nessa Records) Paintings acclaimed music critic Ben Ratliff"Procession of the Great Ancestry" is a jazz album by Wadada Leo Smith, originally recorded in 1983 and reissued in 2009. The album pays tribute to influential trumpeters like Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Booker Little, and Roy Eldridge. Smith is joined by a talented quartet, including vibraphonist Bobby Naughton, bassist Joe Fonda, and percussionist Kahil El'Zabar. The tracks encompass various music styles, from jazz and blues to reggae and African