Jericho Jericho (1972) [reissue 2010]

This Israeli band (with British vocalist & guitarist) started as The Churchills and released the mind-blowing, psychedelic 1968 LP and some fine singles. In 1971 they moved to England, changed their name to Jericho Jones and recorded guitar-dominated and truly great heavy rock LP Junkies, Monkeys & Donkeys. In 1972 they has shortened their name to Jericho and released fantastic, eponymous album - the real gem of the heavy progressive era! Two shorter songs and three extended tracks make up the album. It was high-octane rock with plenty of heavy riffing and extended, driving guitar solos, screaming vocals & thunderous drumming, but also with numerous tempo changes and typical, progressive arrangements. Unfortunately, shortly after the last single (released in November 1972) the band split up.

Broadening his musical palette, Grant Green detoured into a number of "theme" sessions in 1962 - the light Latin jazz of The Latin Bit; the country & western standards of Goin' West; and the best of the bunch, the old-time gospel album Feelin' the Spirit. For Feelin' the Spirit, Green takes five traditional, public-domain African-American spirituals (plus the CD bonus track "Deep River") and gives them convincing jazz treatments in a quartet-plus-tambourine setting. Green's light touch and clear tone match very well with the reverent material, and pianist Herbie Hancock is tremendous in support, serving the needs of the music and nailing the bright gospel style perfectly. Similarly, Green's playing never gets too complicated or loses sight of the melodies, yet he never runs short of ideas - which goes to show that Feelin' the Spirit is indeed a labor of love…