I'm very saddened to report that we lost one of the true great free jazz drummers at age 76. As I'm sure anyone here knows, Ali has performed in a variety of settings with the biggest names in jazz, in duos and famously with the late Coltrane band on Interstellar Space, Stellar Regions and more. Versatile and amazingly talented, his counterpoint and implied melodic lines brought a strong musical voice which helped advance and define free jazz. He will be missed and remembered.
Rashied Ali
July 1st, 1933 - August 12, 2009

Here's the download figures for the whi music site for the first six months of 2009, which i publish here as many of you are involved in these.

whi004: a present from the pickpocket - phil hargreaves & lee noyes: 62 downloads (57flac, 5MP3)

whi005: Blind Chaos Free Dada: 41 downloads (38flac, 3MP3)

whi006: Friday Morning Everywhere - phil hargreaves & glenn weyant: 64 downloads (60flac, 4MP3)

whi007: Freejazz.org sampler vol one: 18 downloads (all MP3)

whi008: Freejazz.org sampler vol two: 16 downloads (all MP3)

Celeste Experience 9.03.09

We entered another dimly lit, smoky cellar hidden beneath Vienna,

but what we found changed everything. Picture Eduardo Marraffa, Italian wild man on tenor sax

plus dreadlocked dervish Michael Zerang (of Chicago, plays with joe mcphee, hamid drake,

Peter Brötzmann) plus regular Monday night ringleader Marco Eneidi (played with Cecil Taylor, Bill Dixon, Don Cherry,

William Parker, Glenn Spearman, Denis Charles, Raphe Malik, Jackson Krall, Lisle Ellis, Earle Cross, Wilbur Morris).

Haven't seen many comments about this anywhere - but I'm absolutely gobsmacked. 108 minutes of solo trumpet is a rather daunting proposition (and that's just for the listener) - but there's scarcely a wasted second. Seems to be a step beyond his previous solo CD. Well worth checking out.

Disclaimer - as usual no integrity was harmed in the making of this infomercial.

Can anybody think of a free jazz artist who has NO compositions at all - no titles, no changes, no form, no meter, NO PRE-CONCEIVED CONCEPT before entering the mode of performance.

Just playing in the moment and then its gone forever. What a beautiful idea...

Late Trane had song titles, concepts... changes. What doesn't??

any thoughts???

Hello all: new to the site and interested in info on Bob Reid, bassist, pianist and leader of the Emergency Sound, which I have newly discovered. I know he spent much time in Europe but I'm particularly interested in where he was born and early info. I read one reference that stated he was from Alabama, USA. Any info greatly appreciated.

NICE STORY BY PETE GERSHON ON G.L. IN THE CURRENT ISSUE OF SIGNAL TO NOISE WITH THE FREEJAZZ.ORG VIDEO POST BY CAROLYN AND MATT LAVELLE'S EFFORTS TO GET HIM BACK ON THE ROAD TO GIGDOM.
A FUN READ.
PICK UP A COPY IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY

I visit Toronto, Ontario, Canada on a regular basis, but have never been able to find any decent record stores (new or used).

Can someone please help!

Downtown area is preferred but willing to travel too.

Mark

Posted on another forum by Dennis Gonzalez...

"Alvin Fielder is very ill...

My long-time playing partner and drumming legend, Alvin Fielder, who lives in Jackson, Mississippi, is suffering from acute heart problems, and has been bedridden for a month and a half or so. He was scheduled to play Vision Fest last June with Kidd Jordan and declined due to failing health.

He is too weak to undergo the necessary open-heart surgery, but hopefully he will regain his strength soon...we need him back playing again.