One of the first and best free jazz/funk bands. On No Wave, its 1980 Moers Music debut, the band was comprised of James "Blood" Ulmer (guitar), David Murray (tenor saxophone), Amin Ali (electric bass), and Ronald Shannon Jackson (drums). The MRE became Ulmer's baby since he has been the only constant throughout the group's two decades of existence; Murray has made a couple of returns, and Jackson has been in and out. The lineup of the group changed from album to album, especially in the late '90s. Pharoah Sanders and John Zorn recorded with the band (Crossfire), as did Hamiet Bluiett and Arthur Blythe (Knights of Power). Drummer Cornell Rochester succeeded Jackson early on, and Jamaaladeen Tacuma replaced Ali for a time. The band has remained reasonably vital thanks to Ulmer, but one can be excused for preferring their early records, made when Ornette Coleman's Dancing in Your Head was still fresh in listeners' ears.
~ Chris Kelsey, All Music Guide
1. Time Table
2. Big Tree
3. Baby Talk
4. Sound Check
2. Big Tree
3. Baby Talk
4. Sound Check
James "Blood" Ulmer • Guitar & Vocal
David Murray • Tenor Sax
Amin Ali • Electric Bass
Ronald Shannon Jackson • Drums
Recorded at: Studio 57, Düsseldorf, June 80
Produced by Burkhard Hennen
Nice!
ReplyDeletea classic!!
ReplyDeleteTotonho e os Cabra: I was wondering if you would be so kind as to repost Totonho's two recordings that you have on your blog. I think your blog is great; two of my favourite musicians are Ronald Shannon Jackson and James Blood Ulmer and I was for a time a Laswell follower anything with his name/paw print on it I bought. Maybe in the future when I go back home to Canada I can dig up some stuff I have that I haven't seen posted here. I'd copy the cd. then mail it. One recording that comes to mind is the Knitting Factory Tours Europe - it has two great Ulmer tracks on it.
ReplyDeleteLawrence the links are fixed, post a comment
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