''Rashied Ali Quintet'' is an album by the free jazz ensemble of the same name, led by drummer

Ali Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib an ...

, and featuring saxophonist Bob Ralston, trumpeter

Earl Cross Earl Cross (December 8, 1933 – 1987) was a free jazz trumpeter best known for his association with saxophonists Noah Howard and Charles Tyler and percussionist Juma Sultan, as well as with the 1970s loft jazz scene in New York City. Career Cr ...

, guitarist

James Blood Ulmer James "Blood" Ulmer (born February 8, 1940) is an American jazz, free funk and blues music, blues guitarist and singer. Ulmer plays a Gibson Byrdland guitar. His guitar sound has been described as "jagged" and "stinging". His singing has been ...

, and bassist John Dana. It was recorded during 1973 at

Marzette Watts Marzette Watts (March 9, 1938, Montgomery, Alabama – March 2, 1998, Nashville) was an American jazz tenor and soprano saxophonist. He performed and recorded on bass clarinet as well. He had a brief career in music and is revered for his 1966 sel ...

's studio in New York City, and was released on vinyl that year 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 ...

. In 1999, the album was reissued on CD by Survival in conjunction with the Knit Classics label. The recording marks one of Ulmer's first recorded appearances.

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 called the album "an exciting effort," and wrote: "The music is potentially off-putting to listeners unfamiliar with Ulmer's dissonant chord comping and the ebbs and flows of Rashied Ali's sound/time keeping. However, the exuberant improvisations and seamlessly structured arrangements make this a truly invigorating set." 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 ...

'' called the album "oddly disappointing," but noted the significance of "an early glimpse" of Ulmer. Steve Koenig of ''Perfect Sound Forever'' called the tracks "solid in their own right, and historically interesting," and noted that, despite the fact that "the sound quality is as raw as the playing," "you don't have to strain for the music; it's right up front with lots of air and space."

Track listing

# "Adrees" (Rashied Ali) – 16:55 # "Theme for Captain Black" (James Ulmer) – 18:13

Personnel

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 ...

– drums, percussion * Bob Ralston – tenor saxophone *

– trumpet *

– guitar * John Dana – bass

References

{{authority control 1973 albums Rashied Ali albums Survival Records albums Free jazz albums