Arnold first began playing drums in 1957 in Los Angeles while he was in the United States Coast Guard. In 1959, he began performing as "Horacee" when he joined a big band led by David Baker; he also played with Roland Kirk and Charles Mingus that year. In 1960 he became the drummer in a trio with Cecil McBee and Kirk Lightsey.
Throughout the 1960s, he worked in jazz with pianist/composer Hasaan Ibn Ali and bassist Henry Grimes, and with the Bud Powell Trio at Birdland. He worked as part of the Alvin Ailey American Dance company on a tour of Asia. Later in the 1960s, he played with Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba; following this he studied composition under Heiner Stadler, Hy Gubenick, and classical guitar with Ralph Towner. In 1967 he founded his own ensemble, the Here and Now Company, with Sam Rivers, Karl Berger, Joe Farrell, and Robin Kenyatta.
In the 1970s, Arnold became one of the best-known jazz fusion drummers, playing with Return to Forever, Stan Getz, Archie Shepp, and Billy Harper in addition to releasing two of his own solo albums. Later in the 1970s he formed an ensemble called Colloquium III with Billy Hart and Freddie Waits. In the 1980s Arnold went on to teach at William Paterson College. He worked as a session musician, played with Kenny Burrell, and formed a trio with David Friedman and Anthony Cox.
Tribe by Horacee Arnold is a jazz album that is sure to impress any lover of the genre. The album features a diverse range of tracks that showcase Arnold's musical prowess and ability to blend different styles seamlessly.
The album begins with the upbeat and rhythmic "Tribal Dance," which sets the tone for the rest of the album. Arnold's drumming is the highlight of this track, as he keeps the beat steady and infectious throughout.
Other standout tracks on the album include "Kabala," which features some impressive saxophone work by Carlos Garnett, and "Desert Sunrise," which has a more mellow and contemplative feel.
Arnold's drumming is consistently impressive throughout the album, and the other musicians on the record all bring their own unique talents to the table. The result is a cohesive and enjoyable listening experience that is sure to please fans of jazz and beyond.
A very soulful batch of fusion tracks from drummer Horacee Arnold – here leading a group that includes reed talents Billy Harper and Joe Farrell, percussionist Ralph McDonald, guitarist Ralph Towner, and Dave Friedman on vibes and percussion. Tracks are long and spiralling, with a spiritual approach that goes quite out at times, but which also returns to a modal groove at others. Thanks to great playing by Harper and Farrell, the album's got a lot more soul than some others of the type at the time. Tracks include "The Actor", "Professor Moriarty", "Orchards of Engedi", "Tribe", and "Banyan Dance".
Track listing:
1 Tribe 10:15
2 Banyan Dance 7:33
3 Forest Games 2:26
4 Orchards Of Engedi 10:43
5 The Actor 6:55
6 Professor Moriarty 0:41
7 500 Miles High 9:13
Personnel:
Bass – George Mraz
Congas [Conga Drums], Percussion [Latin Percussion] – Ralph MacDonald
Drums, Slit Drum [Log Drums] – Horacee Arnold
Flute, Alto Flute, Soprano Saxophone – Joe Farrell
Tenor Saxophone – Billy Harper
Twelve-String Guitar – Ralph Towner
Vibraphone, Marimba, Xylophone, Percussion – David Friedman
