Cast
Archie Shepp — Saxophonist
Marc Ribot — Electric guitar
Michel Benita — Bass guitarist
Steve McCraven — Drummer
Napoleon Maddox — Singer
Program notes
New York guitarist Marc Ribot considers Archi Shepp "one of the great free jazz saxophone innovators." Together with Steve McCraven (drums) and Michel Benita (double bass), the two artists met for an evening at the 2010 edition of the Jazz à Porquerolles festival. They tackle blues standards such as Monk's "Ask Me Now," Ellington's "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "Ill Biz" with rapper Napoleon Maddox and the iconic "Revolution / Mama Rose."
Archie Shepp is one of the greatest American saxophonists on the jazz scene. He made his name in the 1950s in Paris, where he launched into the free jazz moment, and his committed work defending African-Americans established him as a musician-activist. For over 30 years, he's taught at the Massachusetts Department of African American Studies, in music and music history.