sort of cosmic sloganeering Pharoah Sanders and Leon Thomas have popularized, and the other originals — by producer William S. Fischer and Pat Evans — range from offensively banal ("You Should've Seen the Way") to lackluster. The band Fischer has assembled provides loosejointed electric backup that is sometimes effective ("Judgment") but more often simply treads water. Nevertheless, Bey saves most of the tracks with his passionate singing, which is captured very well, and several of the performances — particularly "Being Uptight" and "Hibiscus"—are strong and affecting in toto. If Bey finds the right songs and the right musicians he could become the jazz voice, and with the right production he could conquer the popular charts as well. For now, he is worth watching and Experience And Judgment is worth listening to. (RS 171)

BOB PALMER