Ali / Belogenis / Morris - Live at Tonic (2002)

The first track (“Invocation: Trane Is In The House”) of this January 2001 live date just about describes it all. This trio formed from the embers of the creative luminescence that was John Coltrane sears through a New York winter evening. Drummer Rashied Ali is familiar with this territory, having held the drum chair from 1965 through 1967, the year of Coltrane’s death. Together Trane and Ali explored the outer reaches of free jazz, recording Meditations, and Interstellar Space. Ali’s drumming abandoned the pulse and timekeeping beats of Elvin Jones for the same freedom John Coltrane was pursuing.

Rashied Ali’s resurgence has paralleled the Downtown scene’s rediscovery of all things free. Together with saxophonist Louie Belogenis, Ali recorded three discs under the name Prima Materia in the mid-nineties and a duet Rings of Saturn for the Knitting Factory label. This live date adds bassist Wilbur Morris (Billy Bang, Charles Gayle, and David Murray) to produce a stout free jazz unit. The opener churns from the get-go as Belogenis screams out lines against the pin-wheeling Ali and walking Morris.

The triad of musicians can barely contain the burn; pausing briefly for a bass solo, Belogenis lays out and Ali rattles the snare. Then they are back at it conjuring the outer reaches of Coltrane’s vision.The beauty of this session is the equal balance between these three. They vary the mood on the introspective “Red Shifting” and the driving “Norfolk Street Run Down.” “Heavenly Star,” dedicated to Albert Ayler, nicely captures the spirit of Ayler’s speech. The final Coltrane Classic, “Spiritual,” acts as a processional lament, reminding one that free jazz is certainly rooted in the blues. Mark Corroto

1. Invocation: Trane is in the House
2. Elixir
3. Red Shifting
4. Norfolk Street Run Down
5. Heavenly Star (for Albert Ayler)
6. Brazilia
7. Spiritual.

Rashied Ali - Drums
Louie Belogenis - Tenor & Soprano Saxophone
Wilber Morris - Bass

#2, 3, 4 written by Ali, Belogenis & Morris
#1, 5 written by Belogenis
#6, 7 written by Coltrane
Recorded live at Tonic, 6/01/2001
Released by DIW in 2002

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David Murray Octet - Hope Scope (1987)

"The perfect setting for the innovative David Murray is the octet that he leads on an irregular basis. This spirited set has tributes to Ben Webster and Lester Young but is at its best when the full ensemble (trumpeters Hugh Ragin and Rasul Siddik, trombonist Craig Harris, altoist James Spaulding, pianist Dave Burrell, bassist Wilber Morris and drummer Ralph Peterson, Jr., along with the leader on tenor and bass clarinet) get to improvise together. This is one of their strongest all-round recordings with "Hope Scope" being a particular highpoint". AMG

"Hope Scope is a fiery recording from 1987, full of boisterous yet controlled energy. Along with his work with the World Saxophone Quartet, David Murray is most well known for his work with his Octet and big band. Hope Scope contains the entirety of jazz history within the parameters of Murray's compositions, and there are touches of Jelly Roll Morton in tandem with Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, as well as a hefty dose of group improvisation.
Hope Scope continues the hard-bop sound as exemplified by Live at Sweet Basil Vol. 1 and Murray's Steps, and peppers it with touches of lyrical melody. The year Hope Scope was released also saw the release of New Life, and The Healers, his duo record with Randy Weston. Unlike other artists who might have suffered burnout from producing so much in a short period of time, Murray seems to thrive in states of hyperactivity. The pleasure and privilege is the listener's". Tonwsend Records Review

1. Ben (For Ben Webster)
2. Same Places New Faces
3. Hope Scope
4. Lester (For Lester Young)
5. Thabo

Hugh Ragin - trumpet
Rasul Siddik - trumpet
Craig Harris - trombone
James Spaulding - alto sax
David Murray - tenor sax, bass clarinet
Ralph Peterson Jr. - drums
Dave Burrell - piano
Wilber Morris - bass

Recorded May 12th, 1987. Released by Black Saint in 1987.
All tracks by Murray, except #2 (Craig Harris) and #5 (Ralph Peterson Jr.)

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