Label Jazzman
Catalog JMANCD077
The album Premonition is a masterpiece of spiritual jazz, and reflects the spiritual awakening of a natural musical genius, Umlah Sadau Holt.
In the 1970s, Holt was involved in all kinds of jazz, reggae and world music projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over time he absorbed the global rhythms that can only come from extensive involvement with a variety of international musicians, and he integrated them into his own developing ideas of jazz. When his friend Emmanuel Nado returned from Africa one day, Umlah was fascinated by his pictures and stories and was inspired to learn more about his heritage - even to the extent of learning to play football! He was also inspired to use his skills to create music that would bridge the spiritual gap between the continent in which he now lived and that of his ancestors. Drawing upon his close friends and a varied selection of session musicians, the concept for an album developed, and eventually 'Premonition' was born.
Umlah composed and arranged all the songs on Premonition, his first and only album, and released it on his own private label. Yet despite an enthusiastic response from jazz aficionados and favourable reviews by the critics, as is often the case with independently produced records, sales were poor. Today the original LP remains an elusive - and expensive - collectors item.
We intend to give Premonition the exposure it deserves. Here is an album that is the sole representation of a inspired jazz artist whohad the talent and dedication to see his dreams materialise. We believe it's significant and important enough in the heady realms of Spiritual Jazz to be rescued in its entirety from obscurity. Another exceptional album in the Jazzman Holy Grail series.
Sadaka
You Make the Sunshine Original Mix
Black Encounters Original Mix
Outer Space Blues Original Mix
Children of the Universe Original Mix
African Violet Original Mix
Nights in Satin Original Mix
Premonition Original Mix
Live Without Fear
Infinite Spirit Music
A New Life, Vol. 2
Gerry McClelland, Don Rendell Five, Billy Jenkins, Frank Evans, Hotpoints, Inner Ear, RedBrass, Big Sun, Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra, Robert Shaw, The Dick Hawdon Quintet, Big Baffle, Music Explosion, Pat Crumly Sextet
Emanative, David Molina, Idris Ackamoor, Dele Sosimi, Nat Birchall, Liz Elensky, Ahu
Cosmic Language
Nat Birchall
Two Sisters from Bagdad
E.J. Garrison
Spiritual Jazz 7: Islam
Maurice McIntyre, Ritual Trio, Emmanuel Abdul-Rahim, Creative Arts Ensemble, East New York Ensemble de Music, Idrees Sulieman, Yusef Lateef, Sahib Shihab, Sabu, Solar Plexus, Abdelrahman 'Abdo' Elkhatib, The Lightmen, Ahmed Abdul-Malik, Dawan Muhammad
Dini Safarrar
Mor Thiam