Horace Tapscott Quintet ‎– The Quintet

Horace Tapscott Quintet’s The Quintet is a powerful archival release that captures the pianist’s visionary blend of free jazz, post-bop, and spiritual improvisation, recorded in 1969 but only issued decades later.

Originally taped in Los Angeles during the same sessions that produced Tapscott’s celebrated The Giant Is Awakened, The Quintet remained unreleased until 2022, when Mr Bongo finally brought it to light. The album features Tapscott on piano alongside alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe, bassist David Bryant, bassist Walter Savage Jr., and drummer Everett Brown Jr.—an unusual lineup with two bassists that adds a dense, resonant foundation to the musicDiscogs+1.

Musically, the record is a striking example of Tapscott’s ability to balance wild, chaotic energy with hymn-like harmonies and spiritual lyricism. The compositions move between explosive, free-form passages and moments of melodic clarity, creating a dynamic tension that reflects Tapscott’s broader vision of jazz as both a communal and transcendent art form. Pieces like World Peace and Your Child embody this duality, shifting from turbulent improvisation to passages of serene beauty.

Critics have noted that The Quintet feels both raw and sophisticated, with its lo-fi recording quality only adding to the immediacy of the performance. The interplay between Blythe’s fiery saxophone lines and Tapscott’s commanding piano is particularly compelling, while the dual basses create a hypnotic pulse that anchors the group’s explorations. The album’s closing track, For Fats, serves as a heartfelt tribute, blending reverence with adventurous improvisation.