On "Cold Sweat," James Brown famously called to "give the drummer some." In 1974, Philadelphia vibraphonist Khan Jamal called to Give the Vibes Some, with superb results. Jef Gilson's pioneering Palm label gave Jamal the platform he needed to deliver a thorough exploration of contemporary vibraphone - another confirmation of PALM's guiding principle to produce records not found anywhere else. Souffle Continu presents this essential reissue as part of their Palm Redux Series, carefully remastered and restored by Gilles Laujol with graphic design by Stefan Thanneur. Originally PALM number 10, Give the Vibes Some stands as a crucial document of 1970s experimental jazz and the global network that sustained avant-garde music across continents.

Raised and based in Philadelphia, Jamal took up the vibes in 1968, after two years in the army during which he was stationed in France and Germany. Decisively drawn to the instrument by Milt Jackson's work with the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamal studied under Philadelphia vibraphone legend Bill Lewis and soon made his debuts in the local underground. Early in 1972, Jamal made his first recording with Sounds of Liberation, attempting an original fusion of conga-heavy grooves with avant-garde jazz soloing. Saxophonist Byard Lancaster, an important figure in Jamal's development, contributed much of the solo work. Later that year, Jamal made his leader debut with Drum Dance to the Motherland, a reverb-drenched experiment with live sound processing. Both albums appeared on the tiny musician-run Dogtown label.

"We couldn't get no play from nowhere. No gigs or recording sessions or anything. So I took off for Paris," Jamal recalled. "Within a few weeks, I had a few articles and I did a record date. It didn't make me feel good about America." That was in 1974, while Lancaster was recording the music gathered on Souffle Continu's recent The Complete PALM Recordings, 1973-1974. Give the Vibes Some emerged from that Parisian exile as an exploratory solo vibraphone album, though two tracks feature a "très célèbre French drummer very much into Elvin Jones" appearing under pseudonym for contractual reasons. Another track finds Jamal switching to marimba alongside young Texan trumpeter Clint Jackson III. The album's four pieces - "Pure Energy," "Clint," "35,000 Feet Up," and the title track - showcase Jamal's mastery of the vibraphone's percussive and melodic possibilities.

The most notable article published on Jamal during his France stay was a Jazz Magazine interview, where his final words were "The Creator has a master plan/drum dance to the motherland." "Give the vibes some" serves as a perfect addition to this programmatic statement - a declaration of the vibraphone's rightful place in the pantheon of jazz expression.

Limited edition heavyweight 180g LP
425GSM Frovi Brown Board packaging
4-page booklet with rare and unpublished photos
Carefully remastered and restored by Gilles Laujol
Officially licensed from PALM / Geneviève Quievreux