Kwanza (The First) is an album by drummer Albert Heath featuring performances recorded in 1973 and originally released on the Muse label.[1][2]

Kwanza (The First)
Studio album by Albert Heath
Released	1973
Recorded	June 14, 1973
Studio	RCA Studios, New York City
Genre	Jazz
Length	44:22
Label	Muse MR 5031
Producer	Don Schlitten
Albert Heath chronology
Kawaida (1969) Kwanza (The First) (1973) Live at Smalls (2009)

Reception

Andrew Gilbert of KQED says, "Kwanza captures a mid-career master with a long-established reputation as one of the most eloquent and adaptable drummers in jazz ... Heath wasn’t content to organize an all-star jam session. He’d been collaborating and studying composition with multi-instrumental explorer Yusef Lateef, and he used Kwanza to investigate some of the chamber music concepts he’d been working on".[3] Jazz Views' Eddie Myer observed, "This album come replete with all kinds of modish innovations, from Swahili titles to 4/4 straight-8 rock rhythms, to guitar and rhodes from the youngest members".[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Albert Heath, except Oops! by Percy Heath.

1. "Tafadhali" – 6:56
2. "A Notion" – 5:29
3. "Dr. JEH" – 6:22
4. "Dunia" – 4:01
5. "Oops!" – 6:33
6. "Sub-Set" – 10:11

Personnel

• Albert Heath – drums, chimes, timpani
• Curtis Fuller – trombone
• Jimmy Heath – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute
• Kenny Barron – piano, electric piano
• Ted Dunbar – guitar
• Percy Heath – bass

References