Issued in September 1969,
Another Voyage is one of
the Ramsey Lewis Trio's best efforts, during its initial release making it into the R&B Top 35. With the lineup of
Lewis, drummer
Maurice White, and bassist
Cleveland Eaton, the LP serves as a prime example of the muscular Chicago sound while preserving the pianist's trademark elegance. In addition to such throbbing, kinetic workouts as
Eddie Harris' "Bold and Black" and "If You've Got It Flaunt It, Pts. 1-2," there's a nice mid-groovin' cover of
Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour,"
Harris' contemplative "How Beautiful Is Spring," and the sumptuous "Opus V," written by
Charles Stepney. Of special note is future
Earth, Wind & Fire leader
White's use of the kalimba on "Uhuru." The pumping "Do What You Wanna" became a post-release favorite during the late '90s and was included on the two-LP set Inside Ramsey Lewis. ~ Ed Hogan