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Atlantic Records released John Coltrane’s critically acclaimed masterpiece Giant Steps in 1960. Tucked away amidst the b-side is “Naima,” an enduring classic written for his first wife Juanita Naima Grubbs. The song is a beautiful, unforgettable recording, with light percussion and delicate piano keys working perfectly in tandem with Coltrane’s sax.
“Naima” quickly became a jazz standard and the cover song resource Second Hand Songs lists a remarkable 360 versions on their website. Doug Carn, Lonnie Liston Smith, McCoy Tyner, and countless others have tried offering a new twist on Coltrane’s masterful original.
In 1985 Ambiance II Fusion put out their brilliant, hypnotic LP Come Touch Tomorrow. The group blended boogie, funk, and jazz with other genres. Their multi-talented leader Daoud Abubakar Balewa was a gifted saxaphone player who also produced the record. One of the many standouts is a lesser-known version of “Naima” that deserves much more recognition.
The album’s first cut “I Dream Too Much” starts with a mesmerizing mix of jazz, soul, and erotic moans, before moving into a reggae vibe for the song’s conclusion. It somehow all works perfectly without sounding the least bit disjointed.
They save their take on “Naima” for the finale and do not disappoint. Released a quarter of a century after Coltrane’s standard, Ambiance II Fusion offers a tasteful modernization that doesn’t lose the integrity of the original.
The song showcases the group’s confidence in their chops, as they stretch the first version’s 4-minute and 26-second running time well over 7 minutes. Listeners should be grateful for the opportunity to fully absorb the song’s careful composition, musicianship, and balance of sounds. Balewa’s skills as a saxophonist and producer are on full display here, as are engineer Mark Coffin’s.
Come Touch Tomorrow fetches close to $200 for an original pressing on Discogs nearly 40 years after its release. Thanks to UK-based Freestyle Records, people can grab a physical copy for much less and enjoy this incredible recording on a variety of streaming platforms.
Listen to “Naima” on any platform here. Make sure to check out Less Than 1,000 Spins on Spotify and YouTube. You can also check out Formerly On Less Than 1,000 Spins on Spotify and YouTube.
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