''Sacred Common Ground'' is a 1995 album by pianist and composer

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 ...

. Recorded shortly before his death, it combines the forces of his African Brazilian Connection ensemble with a group of Native American musicians.

Background

Pullen first heard Native American music performed live in 1992, and responded enthusiastically, expressing a desire to find a way to combine it with jazz. He was soon awarded a commission, funded by the Lila Acheson Wallace-Reader's Digest Foundation Arts Partners Program, to compose a "jazz-Indian score" for choreographer Garth Fagan. Over the next two years, Pullen engaged in a series of two-week residencies with the Chief Cliff Singers of the

Kootenai The Kutenai ( ), also known as the Ktunaxa ( ; ), Ksanka ( ), Kootenay (in Canada) and Kootenai (in the United States), are an indigenous people of Canada and the United States. Kutenai bands live in southeastern British Columbia, norther ...

and

Salish Salish () may refer to: * Salish peoples, a group of First Nations/Native Americans ** Coast Salish peoples, several First Nations/Native American groups in the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest ** Interior Salish peoples, several First Na ...

people of Montana, during which the participants absorbed each other's musical traditions, finding commonalities between Native American music and jazz, blues, and gospel. Pullen eventually devised a project which involved bringing together the Chief Cliff Singers with the members of his African Brazilian Connection, with whom he had recorded three albums ('' Kele Mou Bana'' (1990

991 Year 991 (Roman numerals, CMXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. Events * March 1: In Rouen, Pope John XV ratifies the first Peace and Truce of God, Truce of God, between Æthelred the Unready and Richard I o ...

, '' Ode to Life'' (1993), and '' Live...Again: Live at Montreux'' (1993)). This presented certain challenges, in that the two groups had to adapt to the complexities of each other's musical styles. In addition, Pullen was diagnosed with

lymphoma Lymphoma is a group of blood and lymph tumors that develop from lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). The name typically refers to just the cancerous versions rather than all such tumours. Signs and symptoms may include enlarged lymph node ...

after the project was underway.

Recording and release

The album, produced by

Michael Cuscuna Michael Cuscuna (September 20, 1948 – April 20, 2024) was an American jazz record producer and writer. He was the co-founder of Mosaic Records and a discographer of Blue Note Records. Biography Career Cuscuna played drums, saxophone and flute ...

, was recorded on March 8 and 9, 1995, at the

Power Station A power station, also referred to as a power plant and sometimes generating station or generating plant, is an industrial facility for the electricity generation, generation of electric power. Power stations are generally connected to an electr ...

in New York City, and was released later that year by

Blue Note Records Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group and operated under Capitol Music Group. Established in 1939 by History of the Jews in Germany, German-Jewish emigrants Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, it deriv ...

. Led by Pullen on piano, the group features the final incarnation of his African Brazilian Connection, with saxophonist

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 ...

, trombonist

Joseph Bowie Joseph Bowie (born October 17, 1953) is an American jazz trombonist and vocalist. The brother of trumpeter Lester Bowie, Joseph is known for leading the jazz-punk group Defunkt and for membership in the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Career Bo ...

, double bassist

Santi Debriano Santi Wilson Debriano (born 1955 in Panama) is a jazz bassist, composer and music teacher.Mor Thiam, along with the seven members of the Chief Cliff Singers, who provide vocals and drumming. The music was co-written by Pullen and Mike Kenmille of the Chief Cliff Singers. At the time of the recording session, Pullen was in remission from the lymphoma that would end his life. However, he was unable to play at the work's live premiere, handing off responsibility for the piano part to his former student D. D. Jackson, with whom he reviewed the music from his hospital bed. Pullen died six weeks after the recording was made, and one day after the premiere in Helena, Montana, in which his music accompanied Fagan's dance work, titled "Earth Eagle First Circle".

Reception

In a review for the ''

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'', Howard Reich described the album as one of Pullen's "most profound" releases, as well as "a thoroughly original recording." He wrote: "Like much of Pullen's legacy, this music fuses ancient and modern, familiar and exotic idioms in mesmerizing ways."

Scott Yanow Scott Yanow (born 1954) is an American jazz reviewer, historian, and author. Life and career Yanow was born in New York City and grew up near Los Angeles. Beginning in 1974, Yanow was a regular reviewer of many jazz styles and was the jazz e ...

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 ...

noted that the music is "definitely not for jazz purists," and stated: "Pullen and his group have a few interludes where they get to stretch out, and there are occasional instances where the two groups actually play off of each other. But because the singers really do not improvise, this well-intentioned project is a mixed success." Writing for ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', Peter Watrous described the recording as "often beautiful," commenting: "It's exquisite, emotional music, and a testament to Pullen's power." ''

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s Chip Deffaa called the album "a unique, often moving, and surprisingly cohesive recording" with "music that can dance with life or invite spiritual awareness." Critic

Gary Giddins Gary Giddins (born 1948) is an American jazz critic and author. He wrote for ''The Village Voice'' from 1973; his "Weather Bird" column ended in 2003. In 1986, Gary Giddins and John Lewis created the American Jazz Orchestra which presented conc ...

remarked: "At no time... do the two factions really blend. Nor does the record convince me that they are equals. Nevertheless, something remarkable happens. Pullen absorbs their strength and is provoked to the most delicate level of lyricism he ever achieved." 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 "a strange piece of work," and wrote: "One might wish for a better send-off for Pullen... His desire to find ever broader bases for the Afro-American music that is jazz was immensely laudable, but in casting about for new roots he dissipates much of the energy that made him such a dinstinctive presence on the scene." A reviewer for the ''

Orlando Sentinel The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is the primary newspaper of Orlando, Florida, and the Central Florida region, in the United States. It was founded in 1876 and is currently owned by Tribune Publishing Company. The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is owned by pare ...

'' stated: "It's a shame Pullen wasn't allowed a few more years to keep exploring the common ground he discovered here. But it also seems fitting that the last work of such an adventurous artist should be full of so many possibilities." Don Heckman of ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' described the recording as "an extraordinary piece of work," and noted that Pullen "found a connection that has less to do with specific musical techniques than it does with a kind of joint emotional and spiritual constancy." He commented: "His conjunctions, both compositionally and improvisationally, find intersections between the rhythmic flow and spontaneity of jazz and the penetrating chants and insistent percussion of Native America." Writer Dan Lander remarked: "it is obvious that the two groups were able to find a middle ground, creating a music that is utterly unique. In my estimation it is the adjustments, the give and take that the two cultural groups made that provides the context in which the music is revealed. The so-called compromise ''is'' the improvisational imperative and the resultant beauty of the music is a testimony to the worthiness of the participants to invent a process in which to create music together."

Track listing

# "The Eagle Staff Is First" (Francis Auld, Don Pullen) – 3:54 # "Common Ground" (Mike Kenmille, Don Pullen) – 10:27 # "River Song" (Mike Kenmille, Don Pullen) – 7:37 # "Reservation Blues" (Mike Kenmille, Don Pullen) – 6:46 # "Message in Smoke" (Mike Kenmille, Don Pullen) – 8:24 # "Resting on the Run" (Mike Kenmille, Don Pullen) – 7:48 # "Reprise: Still Here" (Mike Kenmille, Don Pullen) – 1:38

Personnel

– piano ;The African Brazilian Connection: *

– alto saxophone *

– trombone *

Santi Debriano Santi Wilson Debriano (born 1955 in Panama) is a jazz bassist, composer and music teacher.Mor Thiam – African percussion ;Chief Cliff Singers (vocals, drums): * Mike Kenmille * Clifford Burke * Arleen Adams * Gina Big Beaver * Clayton Burke * Kenny Lozeau * Francis Auld

References

{{authority control 1995 albums Don Pullen albums Blue Note Records albums Albums produced by Michael Cuscuna