Reissue

Whether through Coltrane, Ayler or Sun Ra, spiritual exploration was a means to express revolutionary ideas in ’60s jazz. Adding to this tradition is Hear O Israel — A Prayer Ceremony In Jazz (Jonny), which sets a Jewish Sabbath service to a late ’60s Blue Note vibe. Recorded in New York in 1968, somehow this privately pressed album escaped the discographies of its famous personnel: which include Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Grady Tate and Thad Jones. Incredibly, this ambitious project was the work of a 17-year old composer, Jonathan Klein. Challenging post-bop arrangements dovetail beautifully with a three-piece Hebrew chorus and Rabbinical recitations to create a richly textured suite. Had this album been released on any commercial scale, it would have made a major impact on the jazz world.