Survival US Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Rashied Ali had a unique talent for transforming unlikely sound pairings into masterpieces. Following Interstellar Space with John Coltrane and Duo Exchange with Frank Lowe, he joined forces with violinist Leroy Jenkins for this album in 1975. Jenkins was fresh from the Revolutionary Ensemble and composed all pieces for this rare duet, which is now reissued on vinyl for the first time in nearly half a century. The deluxe set includes an unreleased session exploring standards, the sounds of Coltrane and some truly wild improvisations. A top treasure for jazz-heads.

Review: Recorded during a 2002 studio session that followed a performance at the Vision Festival in New York City, the album features drummer Ali alongside saxophonist Frank Lowe and emerging talents Jumaane Smith (trumpet), Andrew Bemkey (piano) and Joris Teepe (bass). It's a dynamic ensemble bridges generations, blending seasoned mastery with youthful energy through fiery improvisations and moments of profound unity. Ali's pioneering style, rooted in multidirectional rhythms and polytonal percussion, reshaped jazz drumming by liberating the drummer from a purely time-keeping role. His intuitive interplay with the music, both rhythmically and melodically, made him an equal voice in the ensemble's harmonic creation. This approach resonates throughout the album, where cascading trumpet solos and intricate piano harmonies are tethered by a vibrant bass and Ali's commanding percussion. Tracks like the soaring opener and introspective interludes demonstrate the group's ability to shift seamlessly from bold, expressive improvisation to passages of collective breathing. Originally mixed and mastered by Ali, the recordings were shelved after his untimely passing and are now released by Survival Records in a beautifully restored LP, complete with recollections from Teepe.