Lloyd McNeill Treasures (1980)

• Lloyd McNeill – Griot
• Lloyd McNeill – As A Matter Of Fact
• Lloyd McNeill – Salvation Army
• Lloyd McNeill – You Don't Know What Love Is

• 1. Lloyd McNeill – Griot
• 2. Lloyd McNeill – As A Matter Of Fact
• 3. Lloyd McNeill – Salvation Army
• 4. Lloyd McNeill – You Don't Know What Love Is

Soul Jazz Records are releasing flautist Lloyd McNeill’s album ‘Treasures’ (1980). Originally released on the artists’ own private press Baobab label in New York, the album is a serious collectors’ piece, a heavyweight and fascinating fusion of deep spiritual jazz with Brazilian and rhythms and melodies. The album has been out of print for nearly 40 years. This is a very limited edition pressing of 1000 vinyl + 1000 CDs only.

This groundbreaking album is the culmination of Lloyd McNeill’s many years involved with Brazilian musicians and features the great percussionist Nana Vasconcelos alongside fellow Brazilian’s Portinho and Dom Salvador alongside US jazz musicians including bassist Cecil McBee.

In a 50-year musical career, McNeill has worked with many artists including Nina Simone, Eric Dolphy, Mulatu Asatke and Sabu Martinez.

McNeill grew up during the era of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and his life and work is a reflection of those ideals. All of his music was only ever released on his own private-press record label, echoing the Civil Rights and African-American themes of the era - black economic empowerment and self-sufficiency – and there is a beautiful spirituality in all his music.

In the late 1960s McNeill became teacher of both jazz and painting at the New Thing Art and Architecture Center in Washington and in 1969 was the first African-American professor hired to teach African-American Music History, at Rutgers University.

This is the fourth Lloyd McNeill album that Soul Jazz Records have released and follows on from the recent release of ‘Treasures’ (1976) and the earlier albums ‘Asha’ (1969), ‘Tanner Suite’ (1969) and ‘Washington Suite’ (1970) all of which are being re-pressed to coincide with this new release.

This album is fully re-mastered from original source and is re-released for the first time ever on Soul Jazz Records in a very limited edition of 1000 vinyl (+ download code), 1000 limited edition CD pressing and digital.