The most enjoyable moments in the growth of my vinyl collection are when I accidentally come across real gems that were previously completely unknown to me. As in this case: The Muse label is always a fine source for high-quality jazz of the 70s, with many well-known names. A few years ago, I bought a few Muse records, including a couple blindly, just for the sake of the label, as a collateral purchase, so to speak. Among them was this sensational recording by Catalyst, a group from Philadelphia that never made it to great success – completely without merit.

The combination of experimental jazz with contemporary developments in R&B with a band perfectly rehearsed in countless live sessions is convincing from the first to the last note. Improvisational freedom and the immediacy of a gratifying funky backbeat – it’s tough for me to listen away. And it brings Philadelphia back to my mind as an important place where jazz happened and is continuing to happen.

If the liner notes of this 1972 recording are to be believed, Philly was a magnet for musicians from all over to test themselves before biting the apple.’ Hear it for yourself. And look off the beaten path more often.

Stefan Mohr