Ade Olatunji & The Positive Force - 1977 - Oracy

Ade Olatunji & The Positive Force 

1977

Oracy

01. The Afrikan In Winter 4:13

02. Kupenda Na Kuhitaji 4:24

03. Beautiful Flower 3:10

04. Praise Song 7:15

05. Poem For My Lady 6:05

06. Afrika Needs You 1:17

07. Brothers 2:03

08. Guerilla Warfare 5:12

09. The Weight Don't Make Things No Lighter 5:30

Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Jeribu Gonvi

Drums – Darryl Pierce

Electric Piano, Piano – Matthew Rhodes

Flute, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Dave McMurray, Jay Jones

Percussion – Seyoum, Sundiata Keita

vocals – Debra Channel, Frank Garcia, Kafi Malaika, Kimba Kuumba, Motisola Malaika, Naysha Chilombo, Wambui Malaika

Voice [Spoken Word, Poetry], Producer – Ade Olatunji

Seminal Spiritual Jazz from Detroit, 1977. Officially licensed and re-mastered re-issue**. Comes with fold-out insert of Ade Olatunji’s Poetry that features on the album and never before seen artwork designed by New Zealand based designer David Broome. Oracy' by The Positive Force & Ade Olatunji belongs to the body of 1970s recordings that joined two of the great African American vehicles for expression, jazz and poetry, into a single, powerful force. A profoundly inspiring that doubles as an important lens into the lasting struggle for social change and racial equity, it’s impossible for us to recommend it enough. During this era, artists started their record labels and venues, freeing themselves from outside dependency and exploitation. Many collaborated within a sprawling network, where they came together in an endlessly reconfiguring series of groups, while others worked within now legendary collectives like Sun Ra’s Arkestra, the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians), Kelan Phil Cohran’s Afro-Arts Theater, the Black Artist’s Group, and the Pan Afrikan Arkestra.

Among the rarest and most coveted of these gestures, is a lone record entitled Oracy, released privately in 1977 by the Detroit ensemble, The Positive Force & Ade Olatunji, now reissued for the first time on vinyl by the New Zealand imprint Rain&Shine. A towering achievement that links the worlds of activism, cultural consciousness, poetry, and spiritual jazz as a single force, its long awaited return is a truly historically significant event.

Little detail is widely known about the group behind Oracy, The Positive Force, accompanied by the 

poet Ade Olatunji. While it is their lone recorded outing, issued in 1977 on Pamoja Records, there are indications that the project lasted for some time and was connected to a larger constellation of creativity and cultural togetherness in Detroit. One member recounts, “I remember Detroit being a cultural hotbed in 1977. There was poetry, theater and music everywhere.” When entering the studio, the group settled on their title, Oracy, which they took from Wole Soyinka’s term for oral literacy, a practice deeply connected to their own.

One of the great triumphs of social, political, and creative self-determinism that rose from African American communities during the 1970s, not to mention jazz at large, it’s hard to express how potent and prescient The Positive Force & Ade Olatunji’s Oracy feels in this moment. A profoundly inspiring work of beauty and expression, that doubles as an important lens into the lasting struggle for social change and racial equity, it’s impossible for us to recommend it enough.

A truly incredible piece of work, issued lovingly by Rain&Shine as an officially licensed and re-mastered edition, featuring a fold-out insert of Olatunji’s poetry and never before seen illustrations from 1977. Easily one of the best reissues of the year, and not to be missed.

One of the most righteous soul jazz albums of the 70s -- a unique session of poetry, percussion, and jazz -- put together by the ultra-hip Positive Force! Not to be confused with the soul group of the same name, this combo was a spiritual jazz ensemble -- featuring poet Ade Olatunji reciting some of his works, plus additional percussion, piano, bass, and keyboards. The tracks unfold with a simple, easy-going approach that's really beautiful -- redemptive, hopeful, and free-thinking -- with a great vision for the future, and a keen ear to challenge the status quo.