The Way Ahead

On this album, Archie Shepp sought to reconnect the avant-garde with the core traditions of jazz. The music is a swaggering, bluesy collection that grooves with an almost New Orleans-like strut, thanks to the impeccable rhythm section of Ron Carter and Roy Haynes. Even as the solos push the harmonic boundaries, the performance remains grounded in a deep sense of swing and history, proving the 'new thing' had deep roots.