Bleep

The eleventh release in Jazzman’s much-loved Spiritual Jazz series provides an introduction to one of the most crucial European jazz labels. Copenhagen’s SteepleChase Records has been running for almost fifty years at this point, so to pick highlights from their catalogue must have been some challenge for those who compiled this one. However, Spiritual Jazz 11: SteepleChase does a good job of showcasing a little bit of everything that the label does well, from post-bop (Mary Lou WIlliams - ‘Ode To Saint Cecile’) to flute-led fusion offerings (Ken McIntyre - ‘Miss Priss’) and outer-edges spiritual experiments (Jim McNeely - ‘Tipe Tizwe’) and much else besides.