... LP, Vinyl record album

A really raw set from reedman Charles Gayle – a 90s recording, but done with the ferocity of some of the hardest-hitting 60s sides from ESP Records! Gayle is completely unbridled – stretching out on very long tracks with tremendous free runs on tenor and bass clarinet – driven by bold energy from Michael Bisio on bass and Michael Wimberly on drums – both players who can come on strong, yet really seem to be there to let Gayle lead the way! Charles has a sharp edge and hard tone that's definitely a legacy of Albert Ayler – obviously heard on the album's "Homage To Albert Ayler" – as well as on other tracks that include "Alpha", "I Remember Dolphy", "In The Name Of The Father", and "Book Of Revelation". CD

Buell Neidlinger on bass, Charles Gayle on tenor saxophone, and John Bergamo on tdrums. CD

Charles Gayle calls forth the ghost of John Coltrane wonderfully – in this freewheeling set that also features bass from William Parker and drums from sometime Trane-mate Rashied Ali! The record is filled with the kind of openly expressive energy of Coltrane's mid 60s period – that point when structures really broke down, and The Great One opened up the tenor sax in ways that went onto have a huge impact for decades to come! Gayle's music has always owed a lot to this period of Coltrane – and he pays it right back here in a sparkling performance that would definitely have made the Great One proud. The set's one long performance, with varying moods and moments – ala late Coltrane on Impulse! CD

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The great Donald Byrd is on the cover this time around – and gets a great feature on his key jazz funk years for Blue Note on the inside! And as always, We Jazz really knocks it out of the park – with a mix of writing and artwork that's far beyond jazz magazines of years past – all in service of artists who include Lonnie Liston Smith, Billy Harper, Ralph Towner, Muffins, Domi & JD Beck, Anoushka Shankar, Charles Gayle, and Anni Kiviniemi! There's also the regular Discaholic column from Mats Gustafsson, a look at the Odysseus Festival, and reviews – plus a very cool photo essay on the rare Vogel Records label. Done in a beautiful book-style format – and full color throughout! Magazine

A great little set with music from Ahmed Abdullah, Charles Gayle, Michael Bisio, David S. Ware, Dennis Charles, the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Other Dimensions In Music, Rob Brown, and Charles Brackeen! CD