Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre - Rivbea Live! Series, July 12, 1975 Volume 1 (NoBusiness 2024)

By Martin Schray

In the late 1970s, New York City seemed to be on its last legs. Faced with economic stagnation, industrial decline and the threat of financial bankruptcy, the city was forced to lay off employees and cut municipal services, affecting waste disposal and schools. The already high unemployment rates in the city continued to rise. Violence increased, the crime rate rose rapidly, arson and theft were commonplace. Manhattan was not the gentrified playground for the super-rich like today, prostitution and open drug dealing dominated even the area around Times Square. The Lower East Side was actually a no-go area. Crime series and films such as Kojak, Shaft and Superfly depicted this atmosphere, the action always supported by soundtracks that are sometimes iconic today. But if a director had made an unsparing film about the city, his soundtrack would have had to be music from the loft scene, which was emerging at the time - wild free jazz, uncompromising and raw. The center of the storm was Sam Rivers’ Studio Rivbea located at 24 Bond Street. On July 12, 1975 saxophonist Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre played there with his quartet comprised of trumpeter and AACM alum Malachi Thompson, drummer Alvin Fielder, and electric bassist Milton Suggs - and their music would have been the ideal imaginary soundtrack for that film.

McIntyre began his musical career in Chicago and became a member of the Association for the AACM, he was even one of its public voices in the 1960s. In the 1970s, he moved to New York City and played frequently at Rivbea Studios, as well as teaching at Karl Berger’s Creative Music Studio. This album here also dates from this period. His career seemed to be on the rise, as in 1974 he received the Rising Star Award in the clarinet category of the Down Beat Polls.

Rivbea Live! Series, July 12, 1975Volume 1 consists of three untitled pieces and begins with a melody line by the two reedists that displays a quirky funkiness. However, McIntyre and Thompson quickly lose themselves and play around each other. McIntyre’s style is definitely reminiscent of the late John Coltrane, spiritual themes shimmer through, but they are repeatedly broken up. Added to this are Fielder’s free playing and, above all, Suggs’ pumping, wobbly electric bass. The cleverly arranged rhythmic chaos is always cut through by razor-sharp brass solos, creating a harsh tension in the music that reflects the violence present in the city. This is countered by rare, calm melodic heads, which only feign harmony for a short time. Staccato chords, arpeggios, solo appearances and dry funk rhythms destroy the idyllic scenes. The music then drives forward again, it’s restless and nervous. All three compositions on this album are robust vehicles that have to withstand the hard centrifugal force of the improvisations of all four. Sadly, this band was relatively short-lived, although the musicians were passionate and eager to play, masters of their craft to boot - McIntyre’s and Thompson’s solos alone are worth listening to it closely in their sheer brilliancy and captivity.

Unfortunately, Kalaparusha McIntyre did not have the career that was actually predicted for him, most likely prevented by his drug addiction. With his contribution to the opening track of the first of the legendary Wildflowers compilations, he once again had the opportunity to take off. Between 1977 and 1984, he recorded seven albums, four of them as a leader. On the last one he is a member of the wonderful Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. All these albums are excellent. After 1984, Kalaparusha Maurice McIntyre disappeared for almost 15 years. From 1998 onwards, new recordings emerged every now and then, unfortunately never quite at the same level as before, his musical power seemed to have died out. He passed away impoverished in 2013. These recordings from his best period in the early 70s are a surprise and a treat. The fact that this is Volume 1 gives hope for a Volume 2 in the not too distant future.

Rivbea Live! Series, July 12, 1975Volume 1 is available as a CD and as a download. You can listen to “Unidentified Title 1“ and order the album here.