STRATA- EAST

CAT NO. SES- 19730

Re-mastering by: Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London

Handscapes is a double live album by The Piano Choir featuring Stanley Cowell, Nat Jones, Hugh Lawson, Webster Lewis, Harold Mabern, Danny Mixon, and Sonelius Smith recorded in 1972.

At the time of release Ebony reviewer Phyl Garland said "One needn't be a "piano freak" to appreciate a truly new recording. First of all imagine seven gifted and talented pianists sitting down to seven grand pianos (with electric piano, organ, harpsichord, a few tambourines for spice) and proceeding to tear up these instruments - musically, that is. ...the torrrent of sound springing from their 70 fingers is so powerful and majestic as to be unlike anything one has ever heard."

In his review for AllMusic, Michael G. Nastos simply states "Brilliant"

 

Tracklisting 

          

Side A: 1. Jaboobie’s March 2. Straight No Chaser 3. Precious Lord 

Side B:  1 Sanctum Saintorium 2. Nation Time 3. Effi

Side C:  1. Man Extensions

Side D:  1. The Almoravids 2. Killers

 

Personnel: Stanley Cowell, Nat Jones, Hugh Lawson, Webster Lewis, Harold

                   Mabern, Danny Mixon & Sonelius Smith variously on piano, electric

                   piano, vocals, percussion, African piano & Harpsichord.

 

Produced by The Piano Choir and Geri Hamlin

 

Recording engineer Robert Rachdorf

Mixing engineer: Don Van Gordon

Mixed and edited at Sound Wave Studios, New York City

 

Recorded October 28, 1972 except for “Precious Lord” on June 18, 1972.