While not as well remembered as the St Louis-based Black Artists Group, Charles Bobo Shaw's Human Arts Ensemble employed many of the same heavy-hitters – and was surprisingly prolific, releasing more than half a dozen albums during the 1970s. Recorded live at Sam Rivers’ Studio Rivbea in New York in 1974, Streets Of St. Louis weaves together a couple of the prevailing out-jazz strands of the day – from big, multi-horned free-jazz and group improvisation through to the glowering electric Miles groove of ‘Miles Beyond’, with Dominique Gaumont's taut electric guitar tossing out choppy chords and gnarled blues figures. Across the whole date BAG co-founder and Art Ensemble of Chicago mainstay, trumpeter Lester Bowie, is on powerful form, blowing up blustering barrages and high, tight buzzes in cheek-busting upper registers, while Julius Hemphill on alto slithers and darts like a wily viper. Guaranteed to lift the roof off any loft scene hang-out.

Vinyl selling for $44.50 at discogs.com in August 2016