Arguably the crown jewel New York’s Strata East label, Clifford Jordan’s Glass Bead Games features some of the heaviest playing to ever be laid down to wax. Recorded in 1973, the album was the fifth part of the “Strata-East Dolphy Series” (for another taste of the series, check out Pharaoh Sanders Izipho Zam). The lineup is brutally deep, with Billy Higgins on drums, Cedar Walton and Stanley Cowell on piano, and Bill Lee (Spike’s father) and Sam Jones on violin bass. Jordan’s playing is brilliant throughout. He takes a page from John’s influence but without feeling the obligation of mimicking his predecessor, resulting in some of “the most significant saxophone performance on record since Coltrane.” Obviously, every track is full of heavy jazz vibrations that captivates you from the moment you lay down the needle, but it’s Lee’s “John Coltrane” that takes the proverbial sonic cake. Opening with a solo chorus by its composer and moving into a vocal chant by Jordan, Higgins, and Lee, the song is haunting, and leaves a lasting impression that’ll be hard to shake. 12 tracks in all, audiophile re-master pressed on 180 gram vinyl. Released by Pure Pleasure Records. Don’t sleep on this stellar reissue if you don’t want to fork an arm and a leg for an OG!

• 180 gram vinyl pressing
• audiophile re-mastering
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Pure Pleasure 2019

reviewed by Ricky Fleece 5/2019