''New Directions in Modern Music'' is a live album by the

Rashied Ali Rashied Ali, born Robert Patterson (July 1, 1933 – August 12, 2009), was an American free jazz and Avant-garde jazz, avant-garde drummer who was best known for performing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life. Biography Earl ...

Quartet. It was recorded at The East in Brooklyn, New York, during 1971, and was released in 1973 by Ali's

Survival Records Survival Records is an independent record label that focuses on free jazz. It was founded in 1972 by American drummer Rashied Ali. History Ali co-founded Survival with saxophonist Frank Lowe in 1972, after experiencing frustration with being una ...

. On the album, Ali is featured on drums and percussion, and is joined by saxophonist and flutist

Carlos Ward Carlos Ward (born May 1, 1940, in Ancón, Panama) is a funk and jazz alto saxophonist and flautist. He is best known as a member of the Funk and disco band BT Express as well as a jazz sideman. Biography Ward was raised in Panama City, and at a ...

, pianist Fred Simmons, and bassist

Stafford James Stafford James (born April 24, 1946) is an American double-bassist and composer.Allmusic/ref> Biography Stafford James was born in Evanston, Illinois. From ages 6 to 11 he was a left handed violinist in the school orchestra. He also possessed d ...

. In 1999, the recording was reissued by Survival in conjunction with Knit Classics. Ali stated that the quartet, which stayed together for about three years, was "the first group that I got together after Trane died, after I went to Europe and got that whole thing out of my system." The band eventually broke up because "it got to the point where were weren't working at all and everyone was such a good musician, and getting calls from other people." The group's regular pianist was

Don Pullen Don Gabriel Pullen (December 25, 1941 – April 22, 1995) was an American jazz pianist and organist. Pullen developed a strikingly individual style throughout his career. He composed pieces ranging from blues to bebop and modern jazz. The great ...

; however, he was unable to attend the recording session, and was replaced by Simmons.

Reception

In a review 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 ...

, Wilson McCloy wrote: "yet another rewarding recording from the Survival archives... All of the early Survival albums include long Ali solo sections, so be forewarned; but be aware that these musicians will be pushing the limits of jazz expression. The music is the reward." The authors of ''

The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' is a reference work containing an encyclopedic directory of jazz recordings on CD which were (at the time of publication) currently available in Europe or the United States. The first nine editions were compiled b ...

'' stated: "Ward's fiery and beautifully structured solo on 'As-Salaam-Alikum' is a perfect representation of what came to be known as Fire Music, with all of its spirituality as well as intensity."

Track listings

Composed by Rashied Ali. # "As-Salaam-Alikum" – 21:47 # "Akela" – 20:48

Personnel

– drums, percussion *

– alto saxophone, flute * Fred Simmons – piano *

– bass, violin

References

{{authority control 1973 live albums Rashied Ali live albums Live free jazz albums Survival Records live albums