Charles Earland: "Leaving This Planet"

Well, it’s about time.  I’ve been a devotee of this album ever since I heard a snippet of the title cut on an Earland comp a while back, and damned if it doesn’t live up to, and even exceed, every dreamt-of expectation.  “Leaving This Planet” jumps out the box first, powered by Harvey Mason’s samba-funk drumming and adorned with Patrick Gleeson’s swirling synths, as Earland lays over the top with some monstrous organ and ARP riffing.  Rudy Copeland sings, “I wanna leave this planet, with all the trouble that’s in it,” the desperation in his voice pushed to the breaking point—I mean, this cat is stone GONE.  Then Earland cascades in with a typically acrobatic solo, just killing, until he finally gives way to Joe Henderson’s apocalyptic, mournful-yet-blistering saxophone.  Towards the end of the track the whole thing threatens to implode, as synths and drums collide into some other universe, until Earland reels it all back in with that heavy, funky organ.  Finally it fades, only to continue moving from one masterful piece to another, from an interpretation of Freddie Hubbard’s landmark “Red Clay” with Hubbard himself on trumpet, to the bizarre groove of “Warp Factor 9,” then waaay off into the spacy stoner jazz cosmos with cuts like “Mason’s Galaxy” and “Asteroid.”  You’re not likely to come across this anytime soon, but if you do, snap it up.  It’s a free ticket to the stars and infinite spaces beyond.  I shit you not.