New York’s Frederiksberg Records latest reissue rescues a very special privately-pressed piece of Californian spiritual jazz. Produced by saxophonist Jeff Jones and friends under the alias The People’s People, The Spirit Of David was originally released in 1976 on Jones’ own imprint, The Voice Of The People Record Co. 

According to the sleeve notes the 4 remaining players – Emmons Porter (bass, vocals), Jack Spinovich (drums), Leonard Franklin (guitar), Ray Vega (percussion, congas), Steve Espanosa (piano) – were drilled like a military outfit for 3 years before the recording, which – the full 45 minutes – was committed to tape in a single take. 

The set, unsurprisingly then, evolves like a suite, an episodic but seamless narrative. The opening Monica, sampled by DJ Shadow for What Does Your Soul Look Like?,  is lush, laidback, after-hours. Espanosa’s electric keys shining, twinkling, Franklin’s fretwork forming a gently strummed rhythm while Jones serves up a soft serenade. 

On the 17-minute Q Street, the tenor slowly, then speedily sends out spirals of notes, as the quintet begin to spin a Latin tarantella. Franklin, scratchy, funky, while Vega shakes seashells in the background. The reed’s bleating becoming more insistent, threatening to break free, before making space for Espanosa. Porter’s tight, precise b-line driving and grounding the dance as Spinovich’s snares roll and cymbals crash. The axe eventually chopping out bent, beautifully distorted bluesy licks in the style of Santana at Woodstock.

Fritz, another awesome epic, initially leaps in, livelier still, until the rhythm section suddenly stops, and the track drops to tone of the beatless opener. Only to build back up, even funkier. Strutting its stuff in a streetwise Miles On The Corner / Jack Johnson fashion. The drums returning, sharp, swinging, kicking. Wah wah whipped and featuring more Hendrix-esque, stoned freakouts. The bass being given more room to breathe, move. Groove. The closing Where Is My Autumn Love is a sedate, “trad” stroll in comparison. 

Ideally experienced as it was created, whole, uninterrupted, the album sleeve comes with the following recommendation from Jones: “Take this medication for anxiety, fatigue, despair, loneliness. Dosage: 1-3 times daily.”

The People’s People Present The Spirit Of David can be ordered directly from Frederiksberg Records.