1978 Japan RE of ’74 OG Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes “Cosmic Funk” on Flying Dutchman

Well, I thought I’d already posted the full early run of Mr. LLS, but apparently overlooked this one, which is odd as it might be my favorite of the bunch. While just as mind-bending and interplanetary as earlier iterations of the band, C-Funk is a bit further out of the avant jazz box as opposed to the avant funk box, while still as soulful and spiritual as previous boxes. This may have something to do with the addition of Andrew Cyrille to the percussion bank of Lawrence Killian, plus Doug “Sea Of Nurnen” Hammond stows away in the hold of the rocket with Donald “Luv” Smith and Ron “Billy Parker’s Fourth World” Bridgewater as it sets its controls for The Heart Of The Sun. No point in describing the music, which no matter how accurate will still be misleading, you’re either an Astral Traveller or you’re not. It’s not an excusing club, though, Lonnie and the boys are all about the love and universal consciousness, and there’s plenty of first class seats for those willing to expand into them. Oh yea.