Rashied Ali

Synopsis

Until his untimely death in August 2009, Rashied Ali was widely regarded as the doyen of free jazz drummers. He made his name in John Coltrane's quartet and went on to a wide range of musical activity in the 42 years since Coltrane's death. With the help of an archive interview with Ali, Alyn Shipton picks his greatest recordings in tribute to this fine musician.

Playlist:

DISC 1
Title: Lourana
Artist: Rashied Ali Quintet
Composer: Clark
Album: Live in Europe
Label: Survival
Number: 126 Track 4
Personnel: Rashied Ali - drums, Joris Teepe - bass, Greg Murphy - piano, Lawrence Clark - sax, Josh Evans - trumpet.

DISC 2
Title: Compassion
Artist: John Coltrane
Composer: Coltrane
Album: Meditations
Label: Impulse
Number: 11992 Track 2
Personnel: John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, ts; McCoy Tyner, p; Jimmy Garrison, b; Elvin Jones, d; Rashied Ali, d. 23 Nov 1965

DISC 3
Title: The Mac Man
Artist: Archie Shepp
Composer: Shepp
Album: On This Night
Label: Impulse
Number: GRP 11252 Track 2
Personnel: Archie Shepp, ts; Bobby Hutcherson, vib; Henry Grimes, b; Rashied Ali, d; Ed Blackwell, rhythm logs. 12 August 1965.

DISC 4
Title: Peace on Earth (opening)
Artist: John Coltrane
Composer: Coltrane
Album: Live in Japan Vol 1
Label: Impulse
Number: 55XD5734 CD 1 Track 1
Personnel: John Coltrane, ts; Alice Coltrane, p; Jimmy Garrison, b; Rashied Ali, d. 22 July 1966.

DISC 5
Title: Venus
Artist: John Coltrane
Composer: Coltrane
Album: Interstellar Space
Label: Impulse
Number: GRP 11102 Track 3
Personnel: John Coltrane, ts; Rashied Ali, perc. 22 Feb 1967.

DISC 6
Title: Manifestation
Artist: John Coltrane
Composer: Coltrane
Album: Cosmic Music
Label: Impulse
Number 515 S1 Track 1
Personnel: John Coltrane, ts; Pharoah Sanders, ts, fl; Alice Coltrane, p; Jimmy Garrison, b; Rashied Ali drums. Ray Appleton, percussion, Feb 2, 1966.

DISC 7
Title: Why Not
Artist: Marion Brown
Composer: Brown
Album: Why Not
Label: ESP Disk
Number: 1040 Tr 3
Personnel: Marion Brown, as; Stanley Cowell, p; Norris Jones, b; Rashied Ali, d. 1966.

DISC 8
Title: Pennies from Heaven
Artist: Eddie Jefferson with Rashied Ali's Quintet
Composer: Burke/Johnson
Album: At Ali's Alley
Label: Blue Music
Number: 884502153941 Track 2
Personnel Eddie Jefferson, voc; Benny Wilson, b; Marvin Blackman, ts; Marsha Frazier, p; Rashied Ali, d. Rec 1976.

DISC 9
Title: Iris
Artist: Rashied Ali with Prima Materia
Composer: Coltrane
Album: Configurations - The Music of John Coltrane
Label: Blue Music
Number 884502153958 Track 4
Personnel: Allan Chase, ts; Louis Belogenis, ts; Greg Murphy, p; Wilber Morris, b; Rashied Ali, d. 2009.

Broadcast

1. Sat 24 Oct 2009
   16:00
   BBC Radio 3