George Adams & Don Pullen: Big Alice

This session featuring Mingus alumni (with the obvious exception of Cameron Brown) is filled with high- energy original music from Adams and Pullen. While the arrangements are expectedly unpredictable and multidimensional, their free jazz elements are countered by a strong compositional basis in the blues and gospel music (à la their former bandleader). This Pullen-penned track opens with an exceptionally melodic unaccompanied drum solo from Richmond, followed by extended solos by Pullen and Adams over the New Orleans street-beat groove. The tune concludes with playful, quote-dominated trading between Adams and Richmond. Stimulating, bold jazz from understudied masters.