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First ever vinyl reissue of Hadley Caliman's 1971 cult classic

Features original gatefold artwork with new first-gen session photos

Includes 2-page insert with new essay by Todd Cochran

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Hadley Caliman is not nearly as known as he should be, but there is one recording he appears on that many have heard many times over the years. Hadley is the lone saxophonist who opens up Santana’s “Caravanserai” album. How many times have you heard that solo with the crickets chirping in the background, it features a lot of Hadley’s signature technique as he works with overtones and split tones. “Iapetus” is one of Hadley’s many albums as a leader, and it is one that should appeal to fans of the psychedelic avant-garde fusion of the early 70s best represented by Herbie Hancock’s “Crossings” album. Along with Hadley, a major player on here is keyboardist Todd Cochran, who went on to play on many jazz, fusion and prog rock albums over the years. — (via Jazz Music Archives)

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Despite making a name for himself as a sideman with Della Reese, and in the orchestras of Bobby Bryant, Gerald Wilson, and Don Ellis, tenor saxophonist Hadley Caliman didn't cut this, his debut album as a leader, until he was 39 years old. (He cut less than ten in his lifetime.) His sidemen here include bassist Bill Douglas, drummer Clarence Becton, pianist Larry Vuckovich, and guitarist John White, Jr. Among the highlights is opener "Cigar Eddie," one of Caliman's four compositions (and one he would revisit throughout his lifetime). A strutting soul-jazz groove put forth by a four-four snare, hit-hat shuffle, a big woody bassline, and some funky blues comping by White, introduces both the saxophonist's melody and solo, wrapped into one. Vuckovich covers the progression when White leads his wrangling, Gabor Szabo-esque solo before the melody returns. "Comencio" opens with gorgeous bass harmonics. When Caliman takes off with the melody in that big fat tone of his, one can hear how deeply he studied Coltrane's modalism, but his phrasing is his own. Also worthy of note are the two near symbiotic exchanges between the bassist and drummer. "Kicking on the Inside" is an outlier here due to its more involved melody, and the spacious arrangements layer the interplay between Caliman, Vuckovich (who uses really imaginative chord voicings even while comping), and Douglas, whose swing and lyricism are especially notable. — (via AllMusic)

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Label: Wewantsounds / Mainstream Records
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue
Reissued: 2026 / Originally Released: 1971
Genre: Jazz
Style: Post Bop, Modal, Soul-Jazz, Fusion

File under: Soul-Jazz / Jazz-Funk
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