Hard to find music made by African-American improvisers for independent labels, from Black Jazz to Strata-East to Tribe, has had a growing audience for some years now, and this compilation that shines a spotlight on ‘hidden Detroit’ is very timely.

Seedbed of modern soul, the Motor Town also has a great jazz heritage and this excellent anthology celebrates that by placing several lesser known members of the scene next to those who achieved national and international fame.

The fact that these are live performances at local venues such as the Paradise Theatre Orchestra Hall and Community Arts Auditorium of Wayne State University, spread out over a 15 year period, from the mid-1960s to the early 80s, gives a very clear sense of the historical importance of the recordings.

All told, they help to map out the compelling evolution of the post-bop age to the era in which spiritual jazz and fusion, leaning to funk and proto-electro grooves, all came to prominence. Well known anthems by such as trumpeter Donald Byrd (‘Cristo Redentor’) and Bennie Maupin (‘Water Torture’) sound just as vital here as they do on studio sets, but the music of more obscure names such as Detroit Contemporary 4, Ron English and Teddy Harris is also a revelation.