Something of a living legend (he's still playing at age 82, and released a Jazz Is Dead album last year), LA-born bassist Henry ‘The Skipper’ Franklin is best known for his 1970s releases on the Black Jazz label. Real Gone has previously enjoyed critical and commercial success reissuing those Black Jazz LPs, 1972's immortal The Skipper and The Skipper At Home (1974); it is now tackling his third album, the more obscure Tribal Dance, originally released in 1977 on the short-lived Catalyst label, but featuring many of the same musicians Franklin was working with on the Black Jazz records.

If you’re a fan of the kind of spiritual jazz exemplified by Sanders, Ayler and the Coltranes (and later, Ra and Cherry), then you’ll love Tribal Dance; and if you liked those two Skipper albums, you’ll be delighted to learn that Dance is even better.

The title track, which sets the tone for much of the album, kicks off with a fat ‘n’ funky bass solo before the rest of the rhythm section joins in, followed by the three-horn front-line, who all contribute fiery solos. Owens shines on ‘Eric's Tune’ while the shimmering ballad ‘For Penny’, featuring just Dickerson's piano and Franklin's pizzicato bass, provides a welcome respite as wthe side ends.

Flip over, and things really start to percolate. ‘Spring Song’ commences lightly with Owens on soprano, but begins to build momentum as Owens switches to flute, Sonship starts to ignite, and Dickerson contributes a dazzling solo before the septet joins in. ‘Cosmos Dwellers’, at nearly 11 minutes, begins with Sonship on an African-infused array of drums and percussion. Franklin sets up the groove and the three horns state the theme, with Dickerson's electronic keys making an appropriately cosmic contribution. ‘Prime Mover’ closes the album with Dickerson on piano, quickly joined by a fanfare of agitated horns. Reissued on vinyl for the first time and packaged in its original gatefold sleeve, this is a lovely-sounding (the bass and drums especially) and lovely-looking, LP.