Noel McGhie, a little-known Anglo-Jamaican drummer who is hugely popular with free jazz fans, moved to Paris in the early 70s. A worthy heir to Max Roach and Rashied Ali, McGhie even composed music for the Spaniard Fernando Arrabal and became Steve Lacy’s favourite drummer, another exile in the French capital. Other avant-garde musicians soon called on him: François Tusques, Archie Shepp, Bobby Few, Byard Lancaster, Mal Waldron, Anthony Braxton, Alan Silva and Chico Freeman. In 1971, McGhie even featured on Colette Magny’s album Répression! Surprisingly, his album Trapeze (released in 1975) was more like funk than free jazz. With saxophonist Jorge Joao, trumpeter Itaru Oki, electric pianist Georges-Edouard Nouel and bassist Louis Xavier, he produced a wonderful, groovy, 70’s-style score that way surpassed most American productions of that time. A jazz fusion gem that should be rediscovered immediately! © Marc Zisman/Qobuz