AMG Review of I've Known Rivers and Other Bodies

Rob Theakston
All Music Guide

One of the most talented and hard working musicians of the 1970s, Gary Bartz appeared with almost every group vital to the fusion of modern contemporary soul music and jazz. From his experiences with the Miles Davis groups of the early '70s, Bartz rose with confidence to the forefront of the jazz movement, releasing one stellar recording after the next, showing no signs of slowing down into the mid-'70s.

What you hear on I've Known Rivers and Other Bodies is no exception. Here we find Bartz playing some of the best music of his career, blending innovative elements from all genres into one boiling pot and calling it his own. Recorded live before a Montreux festival audience, he and his quartet are in top form. The chemistry between Stafford James and Howard King (on bass and drums respectively) fluctuates between intense and serene, but otherwise provide a solid, reliable backbone to the strength and passion of Bartz's fiery saxophone melodies. A top recording and highly recommended piece to add to any jazz fan's collection.