John Carter - Castles of Ghana (Gramavision, 1986)

This post is by Scott and Dan

John Carter (cl, vo); Bobby Bradford (cor); Baikida Carroll (tr, vo); Benny Powell (tb); Marty Ehrlich (cl, bells, gong); Terry Jenoure (vn, vo); Richard Davis (b); Andrew Cyrille (d, perc)

Recorded in February 1985

Castles of Ghana is the second album in John Carter's series "Roots and Folklore: Episodes in the Development of American Folk Music." It follows Dauwhe, reviewed earlier in this blog. It's theme is perhaps more chilling than Dauwhe because it focuses on the West African trading posts that became prisons in which Africans were held captive before their involuntary journeys into indentured servitude began. As Carter states in his sleeve notes:

"Many of the forts and castles became holding stations for African captives, awaiting a sufficient number for shipment. The inspiration for my compositions is rooted in this historical period. They are musical projections of the high emotions that must have gripped all the participants of this real life human dilemma". 

 

Of all the tracks on Castles of Ghana, the title composition is the most ominous. At 13:22, it is also the longest. It opens with a pair of trumpets playing mournfully over rhythmic tom toms. Soon other members of the band contribute their voices, leading to rich harmonies anchored by bass clarinet and trombone. As the beat intensifies, a simple two-note phrase swoops in to chilling effect. This phrase is repeated before each soloist takes a turn - trumpet, bass clarinet, trombone, violin, and bass. As the sequence ends, the voices come together as the music stops. It's a beautifully structured piece with strong emotional impact.

The album continues with the quieter but even more anxious "Evening Prayer," and concludes with "Conversations." The latter features a duet between two clarinets, which is soon joined by others in a free exchange before a steady march-like beat ends the conversation. Actual human voices are featured on subsequent tracks. Terry Jenoure's wordless vocals over a male chorus are compelling. The album ends with the short spoken "Postlude": 

"The journey facing these captives would prove to be truly arduous and eventful. The journey that would, before its completion, interrupt and redirect the dynamics of human existence on our planet." 

The recording details help to explain why Castles' music sounds so complete. It is a digital recording released simultaneously on CD and LP. Jim Anderson engineered the recording and assisted in the mixing. Bob Ludwig mastered the recording for release. The LP's sonics are marginally better than the CD, but neither poses any inherent problems. This is how music of this caliber should be rendered.