The Cry of My People is an album by avant-garde jazz saxophonist Archie Shepp released in 1972 on the Impulse! label. The album features performances by Shepp with gospel singers, big bands, quintets, sextets, and chamber orchestras. The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek states: "Shepp worked with many larger ensembles as a leader, but never did he achieve such a perfect balance as he did on The Cry of My People".Jurek, T. [ Allmusic Review] accessed 25 June 2009.
Track listing All compositions by Archie Shepp, except as indicated "Rest Enough (Song to Mother)" - 4:41 "A Prayer" (Cal Massey) - 6:29 "All God's Children Got a Home in the Universe" - 2:58 "The Lady" (Bob Ford) - 5:31 "The Cry of My People" (Massey) - 5:45 "African Drum Suite, Part 1" (Beaver Harris) - 0:35 "African Drum Suite, Part 2" (Harris) - 7:34 "Come Sunday" (Duke Ellington) - 9:30 Recorded at Allegro Sound Studios, NYC, September 25–27, 1972
Personnel Archie Shepp - tenor and soprano saxophone Harold Mabern, Dave Burrell - piano Charles McGhee - trumpet Charles Greenlee, Charles Stephens - trombone Cornell Dupree - guitar Ron Carter - electric bass Jimmy Garrison - bass Bernard Purdie - drums Beaver Harris - drums Nene DeFense, Terry Quaye - congas, percussion, tambourine Guilherme Franco - berimbau, Brazilian percussion Peggie Blue, Joe Lee Wilson - lead vocals Andre Franklin, Mildred Lane, Mary Stephens, Barbara White, Judith White - backing vocals John Blake, Gayle Dixon, Leroy Jenkins, Lois Siessinger, Noel DeCosta, Jerry Little - violin Patricia Dixon, Esther Mellon - cello Romulus Franceschini - conductor, arranger Cal Massey, Dave Burrell, Charles Greenlee - arranger, conductor
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