United Front - Ohm: Unit of Resistance

United Front - Ohm: Unit of Resistance

RPM Records RPM 2 (1981)

Here is the second album from United Front, following up the posting of their first below. One notable change in the meantime; Anthony Brown has replaced Carl Hoffmann on drums/percussion and Jason Michaels has been added on piano on a couple of tracks. Otherwise, I don't hear any major changes from their first. One difference is that this album appears more coherent and consolidated. It's very well composed and arranged. The Art Ensemble of Chicago touch is still there, I feel; witness the poetry and musical theatre on "Nothing is More Precious than Independence and Freedom", the serenity of "Ichi Ni San" (meaning one two three in Japanese) and the confident swagger of "What I Heard Once".

I was gratified to learn in a comment to the earlier post that several members are active in the San Francisco area. Shall we hope for a united front again? In any case, these early records have made me curious to explore what these fellows have done later on.

Side 1

1. Nomadic Winds (G. Sams)
2. Nothing is More Precious than Independence and Freedom (L. Jordan)
Words by Frederick Douglas

Side 2

1. I Will Be Free (M. Izu)
2. Ichi Ni San (L. Jordan)
3. What I Heard Once (G. Sams)

Produced by United Front

Anthony Brown - multiple percussion
Mark Izu - bass
Lewis Jordan - alto, voice
Jason Michaels - piano on a1 and b1.

Recorded May 5 and 7, 1981 at John Altmann's Studio, San Francisco
Recording and mixing engineer - John Altmann