Kwanza (The First) is an album by drummer Albert Heath featuring performances recorded in 1973 and originally released on the Muse label.Muse LP series discography: 5000 to 5049 accessed January 9, 2017Albert Heath discography, accessed January 9, 2017
Reception Andrew Gilbert of KQED says, "Kwanza captures a mid-career master with a long-established reputation as one of the most eloquent and adaptable drummers in jazz ... Heath wasn’t content to organize an all-star jam session. He’d been collaborating and studying composition with multi-instrumental explorer Yusef Lateef, and he used Kwanza to investigate some of the chamber music concepts he’d been working on".Gilbert, A., Tootie Heath’s ‘Kwanza’: A Reissue That Deserves Another Spin accessed August 2, 2015 Jazz Views' Eddie Myer observed, "This album come replete with all kinds of modish innovations, from Swahili titles to 4/4 straight-8 rock rhythms, to guitar and rhodes from the youngest members".Myer, E., Jazz Views Review, accessed January 9, 2017
Track listing All compositions by Albert Heath, except Oops! by Percy Heath. "Tafadhali" – 6:56 "A Notion" – 5:29 "Dr. JEH" – 6:22 "Dunia" – 4:01 "Oops!" – 6:33 "Sub-Set" – 10:11
Personnel Albert Heath – drums, chimes, timpani Curtis Fuller – trombone Jimmy Heath – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute Kenny Barron – piano, electric piano Ted Dunbar – guitar Percy Heath – bass
References