Southern Energy Ensemble -

The Southern Energy Ensemble was an American jazz-funk student band that made one album, Southern Energy, recorded in 1976 and later released on Black Fire.

Members: Nat Lee (keyboards), Judy Spears (vocals), Muzi Branch (bass), Ronnie Toler (drums)

Background

Southern Energy Ensemble formed in Richmond around trumpeter Marvin “Dash” Daniels and a large student-based lineup from Virginia State College.

Daniels returned to VSC after Army service in Germany, where he played in the military touring band 100% Pure Poison. He reconnected with saxophonist Al Clarke and assembled Southern Energy from Virginia State players that included keyboardist Nat Lee and percussionists William Johnson and Adolphus Maples. The band worked weekend dates at clubs, universities, and military bases across Virginia and the Carolinas. Through Plunky Branch, they linked with producer Jimmy Gray for a round of sessions at Black Fire Music in Washington D.C.

Southern Energy

The Southern Energy Ensemble recorded an album in late 1976 for Black Fire, which released the music seventeen years later under the title Southern Energy.

Musically, Southern Energy blends electric jazz-funk with percussive spiritual jazz and torrential free-form elements. Saxist/flutist Al Clarke co-directs with trumpeter Marvin “Dash” Daniels, who triples on flugelhorn and shekere. Their horns collide across dense sequences with Nat Lee, who cuts between clavinet, piano, Moog synthesizer, and Fender Rhodes e-piano.

Bassist Michael “Wolf” Pitt imparts spinning, galloping figures amid the percussive flurry of Tony Joyner, Adolphus “Peddie” Maples, and drummer William “Spike” Johnson. Multiple passages feature exuberant verses and vocables by Garrie Wayne, Judith Spears, and Trussel singer Veronica Jones.

A1. “Open Your Mind” (3:59) Lee
A2. “F-U-N-K-Y ’Til the Day I Die” (4:37) Maples, Lee
A3. “Third House” (6:59) Lee, Daniels
A4. “Looking Ahead” (3:26)

B1. “See Funk” (6:07) Daniels, Maples
B2. “Energy” (6:13)
B3. “The Best Part of Me / Southern Energy” (4:32) Clark, Maples

Southern Energy Ensemble cut the album in late 1976 with Jimmy Gray, who worked in sequence on titles by Oneness of Juju, Wayne Davis, and Experience Unlimited.

Muzi Branch created the original illustrated cover. The sleeve sets a bright orange sun, blue starbursts, floating green rock forms, and a pocket watch against black space.

Soon after the sessions, Southern Energy dissolved and the members resumed their studies.

Discography: