Steve Reid - Odyssey of the Oblong Square

2022 CD release.

'Odyssey of the Oblong Square' was originally self-released by Steve Reid in 1977 and featuring heavyweight players Arthur Blythe, Charles Tyler, David Wertman and Muhammad Abdullah.

Drummer extraordinaire and legend, Vietnam conscientious objector, ex-Black Panther, Reid has played with everyone from James Brown to Sun Ra, Fela Kuti and Miles Davis, friend of John Coltrane, worked at Motown who in the latter part of his career worked extensively with Kieran Hebden following his path a radical, revolutionary music up until his untimely death in 2010.

Steve Reid became known worldwide for his radical collaborations with Kieren Hebden after they first recorded together on the Steve Reid Ensemble album Spirit Walk released on Soul Jazz in 2005, releasing five joint releases together in the following years.

Steve Reid is steeped in musical history and a true pioneer of US deep left-field jazz. He played in Sun Ra’s Arkestra, was a Motown session drummer and backed James Brown at the Apollo! He was a Black Panther, imprisoned during the Vietnam war as a conscientious objector and lived in Africa in the early 1970s. Reid worked with Freddie Hubbard, Gary Bartz, Ornette Coleman, Lester Bowie, Fela Kuti, Leon Thomas, Miles Davis and many more in his long illustrious and groundbreaking career.