Ace/BGP’s latest compilation offers a ten track selection of 70s progressive jazz. ‘CELESTIAL BLUES’ (in both CD and double vinyl format) features cuts from people like Gary Bartz, Joe Henderson and Alice Coltrane, Oliver Nelson, Charles Earland and Carlos Garnett. Many of the tracks explore political and philosophical concepts; others invoke mysticism – provoking some to label the genre ‘Spiritual Jazz’. The selected tracks come from labels like Prestige, Muse, Black Jazz, Strata East or Tribe and the long player is out now.
