''Live at Ali's Alley'' is a live album by trumpeter

Ahmed Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah (born Leroy Bland; May 10, 1946) is an American jazz trumpeter who was a prominent member of Sun Ra's band. Biography He began playing the trumpet at age 13 in his native New York City. One of the first groups he performed with wa ...

, listed simply as "Abdullah" on the cover. It was recorded on April 24, 1978, at New York City's Ali's Alley, and released on vinyl in 1980 by

Cadence Jazz Records Cadence Jazz is an American record company and label specializing in noncommercial modern jazz. It is associated with ''Cadence'' magazine. Cadence Jazz was founded by Bob Rusch in Redwood, New York in 1980. By 2000 the label had issued more t ...

as the label's inaugural release. On the album, Abdullah is joined by saxophonist

Chico Freeman Chico Freeman (born Earl Lavon Freeman Jr.; July 17, 1949) is a modern jazz tenor saxophonist and trumpeter and son of jazz saxophonist Von Freeman. He began recording as lead musician in 1976 with ''Morning Prayer'', won the New York Jazz Award ...

, hornist

Vincent Chancey Vincent Chancey (born February 4, 1950) is an American jazz hornist. Early life and education Chancey was born and raised in Chicago. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the SIUC School of Music in 1973 and studied under Julius W ...

, cellist Muneer Abdul Fatah, bassist

Jerome Hunter Jerome Hunter (born January 14, 1942) is an American jazz double-bassist. Personal life Jerome learned to play guitar in his youth but switched to stand-up bass at age 12, studying formally in both classical and jazz styles. He worked early in ...

, and drummer Rashied Sinan.

Reception

A reviewer for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

stated that the album is "symbolic of the decade's 'loft' jazz, a free-wheeling date with uneven but often compelling solos, as well as periods of rambling, unproductive, and ragged ensemble work. Freeman's blistering tenor sax is uniformly inspired, while Abdullah's solos are also aggressive and energetic." The authors of ''MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide'' called the recording "a loft-jazz classic with an unusual instrumentation including French horn and cello plus tenor saxophonist Chico Freeman in an inspired, fiery mood."

Track listing

;Side A # "Happiness is Forever" (Ahmed Abdullah) – 27:42 ;Side B # "Self Portrait in Three Colors" (

Charles Mingus Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz Double bass, upright bassist, composer, bandleader, pianist, and author. A major proponent of collective Musical improvisation, improvisation, he is considered one of ...

) – 3:46 # " The Inch Worm Part I" (

Frank Loesser Frank Henry Loesser ( "lesser"; June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway theatre, Broadway musicals ''Guys and Dolls (musical), Guys and Dolls'' and ''How to Succeed in Business ...

) – 10:45 # "The Inch Worm Part II" (Frank Loesser) – 9:29

Personnel

– trumpet *

– tenor saxophone, flute *

– French horn * Muneer Abdul Fatah – cello *

– bass * Rashied Sinan – drums

References

{{authority control 1980 live albums Ahmed Abdullah live albums Cadence Jazz Records live albums