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Music review: Stories, sounds and palavers
Jazz buff CHRIS SEARLE goes to see the Byard Lancaster Quartet

“My message is aimed at awakening our community. When others enjoy my music I am extremely pleased and invite all to visit Philly, birthplace of America, the spiritual capital of the world. 

“Our city has learned to use great black music as the tool of progressive enlightenment. Newest Africa sounds … dictate that we rise to the responsibility of rebuilding America.”

Some commitment here, within the words of a record sleeve of 72-year-old Philadelphian, the saxophonist Byard Lancaster, whose two albums Pam Africa and Ancestral Link Hotel were cut on successive days in April 2005 and who declares his path has been guided by “angels” from John Coltrane to Shirley Scott, from Lee Morgan to Paul Robeson.

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