Just One of Your Kisses

Ralfi Pagan, Latin soul legend whose voice is reminiscent of Michael Jackson here. Unless I'm imagining it, it's almost as if Michael is singing right now. This guy beats Joe Bataan any day. 

April Fool!

Eric Dolphy on flute in 1960, displaying his playful side. Early Eric Dolphy recordings aren't free-jazz or necessarily avant-garde, but much like Ornette's early work, one can sense great things in the work, as well as a singular voice. Moreover, Dolphy always knew how to get down to bluesy numbers, too. 

Thembi

A favorite of mine from Pharoah Sanders. Sanders has a soft, lyrical side that is sometimes forgotten when we stereotype free jazz as always atonal or a collection of honks and screeching. The inimitable Lonnie Liston Smith is also present, on piano, playing a solo that surprisingly has not been sampled by the hip-hop generation yet?

Toro

Art Ensemble's exotic "Toro" brings to mind Sun Ra's best exotica pieces. Although I am merely a novice when it comes to the world of Art Ensemble of Chicago, I have always appreciated free jazz music for its ability to incorporate so many different sounds and traditions into a unique experience. Art Ensemble of Chicago is exceptionally brilliant in this area, often adding African flavors and flourishes to their "out there" sound. "Toro" almost sounds like it could have been a cut from Sun Ra's Futuristic Sounds or Cosmic Tones for Mental Therapy because of the Afro-Latin percussion, but the horn action is utterly different, with a hint of the 'East' in a tight groove. 

Impressions

Video footage of Coltrane performing live is usually precious. McCoy Tyner is on fire, as one would expect from the likes of him. 

New Africa

One of my favorites from Grachan Moncur III, a tribute to a decolonizing Africa. Other jazz greats included in this are Archie Shepp, Roscoe Mitchell, Haitian-American Andrew Cyrille, and David Burrell kinda sounding like McCoy Tyner. 

Askim

Listening to Kamasi Washington's The Epic this week and "Askim" stands out. Not sure why, but it brings to mind Eddie Gale without being far "out there" like Gale's work.