Dr. Follow’s Dance – 1974
Gary Bartz
An early fusion performance by the altoist
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Altoist Gary Bartz led his NTU Troop band both before and after his period with Miles Davis (1970-72).
The best-known version of the group was his quartet with electric pianist Hubert Eaves, bassist Stafford James, and drummer Howard King, a band captured in prime form on a double-Lp recorded during their 1973 set at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
A year later, the group was still intact and, as can be seen on their performance of the groove tune “Dr. Follow’s Dance,” still in top form; Bartz takes a surprise vocal at the piece’s conclusion.
Decades later Gary Bartz would return to more bop-oriented music but his early fusion dates still sound good.
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald