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Spirit of the Black Territory Bands is an album by the American musician Johnny Otis, credited as Johnny Otis and His Orchestra.[2][3] It was released in 1992.[4] The album is a tribute to the music of the territory bands of Otis's youth; Otis played with several such bands in the 1940s.[5][6]

Spirit of the Black Territory Bands
Studio album by Johnny Otis
Released	1992
Label	Arhoolie[1]
Producer	Johnny Otis, Tom Morgan
Johnny Otis chronology
Let's Live It Up (1991) Spirit of the Black Territory Bands (1992) Otisology (1995)

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance" category.[7][8]

Production

The album was produced by Otis and Tom Morgan.[9][10] Otis's son, Shuggie, played guitar and helped to arrange the songs. His other son, Nicky, played drums.[11] Otis employed a 10-piece horn section.[12] The album was largely made up of Count Basie and Duke Ellington songs.[13] The album cover is a painting by Otis.[14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[15]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[4]
MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide	[16]

The San Francisco Chronicle wrote that "the arrangements lay curling, fine-point filigree behind blasting individual efforts with a prevailing robust spirit that simply smokes."[12]

AllMusic deemed the album "competent but hardly thrilling."[15] The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings noted Otis's "continued engagement with jazz," and concluded that "it's unlikely that swing fans will be disappointed."[17]

Track listing

References

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