1971, in Detroit, trombonist Phil Ranelin and saxophonist Wendell Harrison started a band, a recording company, and a magazine, and called them the Tribe. This legendary political, social, and aesthetic collective also included key members like drummer Doug Hammond, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, Pianist Harold McKinney plus musicians like
Band The Mixed Bag,
Bass Clarinetist and Woodwindist Aaron Neal,
Bassist Ed Pickens,
Bassist Will Austin,
Bassist Lopez Leon,
Bassist John Dana,
Bassist Reginald (Shoo-Be-Doo) Fields,
Conga Player Charles Miles,
Drummer / Percussionist Roy Brooks,
Drummer Billy Turner,
Drummer Ron Jackson,
Drummer George Davidson,
Drummer Bud Spangler,
Drummer Danny Spencer,
Drummer Ike Daney,
Drummer Gayelynn McKinney (Harold Mckinney's daughter),
Drummer Michelle Jhara-Mckinney (Harold Mckinney's wife),
Guitarist Ralph Armstrong,
Keyboardist / Pianist Pamela Wise,
Keyboardist David Durrah,
Keyboardist Keith Vreeland,
Keyboardist Buddy Budson,
Keyboardist Charles Eubanks,
Percussionist Barbara Huby,
Percussionist Billy Turner,
Percussionist Lorenzo Brown,
Pianist Kenny Cox,
Pianist Charles Eubanks,
Poetry group The Black Messengers
Synth player Daryl Dybka,
Trumpeter Charles Moore,
Vocalist Jeamel Lee,
Vocalist Spanky Wilson ,
Vocalist Leon Thomas,
and others.
The collective released a number of highly collectable albums including records like Phil Ranelin's "Vibes From The Tribe," Marcus Belgrave's "Gemini II," Harold McKinney's "Voices And Rhythms Of The Creative Profile," Doug Hammond and David Durrah's "Sea of Nurnen," and Wendell Harrison's "An Evening with the Devil" - many of these releases have been reissued or licensed in the US, Europe and Japan by labels like Hefty, Soul Jazz, P Vine and Ubiquity. Given the broad nature and appeal of these recordings they have become highly praised and sort out by collectors of jazz, funk and electronic music. Interviewing Wendell Harrison in 2001 Jazz Times said the label “packed a strong musical punch remarkable for its unorthodoxy.”
Tribe like Sun Ra throughout his career (releasing records on his own EL Saturn), Max Roach and Charles Mingus in the early 60s (releasing their own music), Stanley Cowell and Charles Tolliver with their Strata East collective in New York, the AACM collective in Chicago (Braxton, The Art Ensemble of Chicago and many more), the Black Artists Group in St. Louis and the Underground Musicians' Association in Los Angeles (Horace Tapscott and associates), defined the very meaning of independent spirit and community in jazz. Few people in the Detroit area music scene have been untouched in some shape or form by the influence and impact of Tribe. The House, Techno and Hip Hop generation among them.
In spring 2007, internationally respected innovative producer Carl Craig re-assembled the remaining core living original members of the Tribe collective all still heavily active nationally and internationally and still very much in contact with other - Wendell Harrison (still living and working in Detroit), Phil Ranelin (now living and working in Los Angeles), Marcus Belgrave (still living in Detroit) and Doug Hammond (now living in Germany). In Craig’s newly refined Detroit Studio a brand new collective album started to take shape. The record will feature classic Tribe material including a brand new arrangement of the Tribe classic “Vibes from The Tribe,” as well as new compositions written especially for the record. The first release (a taster for the Spring 2008 album) will be the single "Livin in A New Day" an appropriately titled brand new composition by Phil Ranelin. This 12" only single was released in December 2008 on Planet E sister label Community Projects. Describing the new song Phil said “It felt great to be back laying down some tracks with the guys. The inspiration for "Livin In A New Day " comes as usual for me just checking out the daily vibes on the planet. We are in very critical times in my opinion and there are lots of issues that need our attention. Things have drastically changed in the last twenty or thirty years and unfortunately most of it hasn't really been good for the planet or the people of the planet, and then you have all of these on going wars, lies, disruptions and fear promotion that's taking place it's really crazy ! That's "Livin In A New Day."
A second single from the upcoming album - a new version of the Tribe classic "Vibes From The Tribe" will be released in summer 2008 also on Community Projects - it will be backed by a special Carl Craig Dance mix of "Livin' in The New Day" original created for UK DJ Gilles Peterson. Recently Wendell Harrison was featured in Prophecy Magazine, whilst both Phil Ranelin and Doug Hammond were featured in Waxpoetics. Carl Craig also discussed the project in his recent listening session with UK magazine The Wire.
Marcus Belgrave, Phil Ranelin, Wendell Harrison and some of the other players featured on the upcoming album along with producer Carl Craig will also be did first live gig as a collective in many years on June 20th at (Le) Poisson Rouge (formerly the Village Gate) on June 20th as part of the 2008 JVC JAZZ FESTIVAL. The show received a glowing review from the New York Times and you can see some footage from it in the TRIBE EPK video below.
Tribe Discography
1973: The Tribe Presents Wendell Harrison & Phillip Ranelin: Message From The Tribe - LP
1973: Tribe: Farewell To Welfare Part 1 & 2 - 7”
1973: Wendell Harrison: An Evening with the Devil - LP
1974: Marcus Belgrave: Gemini II - LP
1974: Harold McKinney: Voices And Rhythms Of The Creative Profile - LP
1974: Phil Ranelin: The Time Is Now - LP
1975: Doug Hammond & David Durrah: Sea of Nurnen – LP
1975: Doug Hammond & David Durrah: Venus Fly Trap- 7”
1975: Phil Ranelin: Vibes From The Tribe - LP
1976: The Mixed Bag: The Mixed Bag – LP
December 2007: Tribe: Livin' In A New Day (Community Projects / Planet E) 12"
Upcoming:
Summer 2008: Tribe: Vibes From The Tribe (Community Projects / Planet E) 12"
Fall 2008: Tribe: The Return of Tribe (exact Title TBA) (Community Projects / Planet E) album
Our new 7'' will be out on the 10th of january with a Loving Heart Collage from Carlos Nino featuring Build and Ark, Najite and the Agindotan Family band and on the other side the fabulous Ode to Ethiopia from John Betsch's Earth Blossom album !
I have heard so many good things about how great the new album is going to be. I can't wait. For those that want to learn more about Wendell Harrison and the tribe days check out this show we did with him: http://jazzstage.us/index.php?post_id=182819
