Those who bemoan the lack of progressive jazz on radio need look no further than The Last Call. On Saturday nights we aim to present the best in classic and new avant-garde, electric, cosmic and groove oriented music for your enjoyment. Music as experience, not as wallpaper or background, is what we explore on the Last Call.

Last Call remembers Rashied Ali in September.




The pioneer and leading exponent of multidirectional rhythms/polytonal percussion, “free jazz” drumming, died of a heart attack on August 12th. He was 74.
Rashied Ali was a professional musician since the 1950s.  Getting his start with local Philadelphia R & B groups after a stint in the U.S. Army, Ali played his first jazz dates as a bandleader in 1953. Later Ali started playing with such notables as Lee Morgan, Don Patterson and Jimmy Smith. Moving to New York in 1963, Rashied Ali became a presence on the avant-garde jazz scene, backing up innovative players such as Don Cherry, Pharaoh Sanders, Paul Bley, Bill Dixon, Albert Ayler, Archie Shepp, and Sun Ra.


Rashied Ali’s association with John Coltrane became legendary, initially sitting in with John Coltrane's group at the Half Note and other clubs around Manhattan; Ali was to fulfill a very important role in Coltrane’s later recordings.


In November 1965 John Coltrane decided to use a two-drummer format for a gig at the Village Gate; the percussionist chosen to complement the already legendary Elvin Jones was Rashied Ali. Shortly thereafter the John Coltrane recording Meditations featured the added presence of Ali with Jones, both drummers contributed greatly to the spirit of invocation that fueled this November 1965 recording.  When Elvin Jones left the group in 1966, Ali was the sole drummer for Coltrane’s explorations of the frontiers of jazz.


After Coltrane's passing in 1967, Rashied Ali worked with the Alice Coltrane Trio. He then headed for Europe, where he gigged in Copenhagen, Germany and Sweden with his own quartet and also worked with Sonny Rollins and Jackie McLean. Ali also spent a period of time studying with Philly Joe Jones in England.


Upon his return from the continent, Rashied Ali resumed his place at the forefront of New York's music scene. He established his own imprint, Survival Records, in 1972 that continues to this day. Ali also opened up his own loft-jazz club, Ali’s Alley in 1973 that began as a musical outlet for New York avant-garde but soon became a melting pot of jazz styles. Although the Alley closed in 1979, its legacy continues in the New York jazz scene and Rashied Ali had a busy career gigging with a virtual Who's Who in jazz, refining his music and encouraging a host of younger musicians.


Rashied Ali’s final studio recordings as a leader, Judgment Day Vol. 1 & 2, featured rising stars Juamaane Smith (trumpet) and Lawrence Clark (tenor sax) perform with veterans Greg Murphy (piano) and Joris Teepe (bass) along with leader Ali. The final disc, a live recording of performances in Finland, featured trumpeter Josh Evans replacing Smith. These and other Rashied Ali recordings will be featured throughout September, with a special tribute taking place September 26th(Photo source: Survival Records).

Also in September, Last Call presents the latest effort from one of the finest guitarists on today's jazz scene. Mike Stern's latest effort, Big Neighborhood, is available now on Heads Up records. It’s hard to resist—Stern’s guitar can add something special to any session. When he is the leader a jazz fan can be guaranteed of a very rewarding jazz guitar date.

On Stern's latest, Big Neighborhood, Stern explores a potpourri of musical directions with a stellar cast of guests. Joining Stern are guitarists Steve Vai and Eric Johnson; bassist-vocalists Esperanza Spalding and Richard Bona; jamband godfathers Medeski Martin & Wood; drummers Dave Weckl, Terri Lyne Carrington, Cindy Blackman and Lionel Cordew; bassists Chris Minh Doky and Lincoln Goines, and several others. The result is lively mix of groove oriented, Moroccan-tinged, rock fueled numbers, all written by the guitarist.


Mike Stern is a longtime presence on the jazz scene. Born on January 10, 1953, in Boston,  Stern got his start as a guitar player with Blood, Sweat & Tears at the age of 22. He then toured with Billy Cobham for a year, and it was at one of the legendary drummer's gigs in New York City that Miles Davis first heard Stern. After moving to New York City, he was recruited by Davis to play a key role in his celebrated comeback band of 1981, which recorded The Man With The Horn. From 1983 to 1984, Mike Stern  toured with Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth band and in 1985 returned to Davis' lineup for a second tour of duty that lasted close to a year. In the summer of 1986, Stern went out on the road with David Sanborn and later joined an electrified edition of Steps Ahead. Stern made his debut on Atlantic Records in 1986 with Upside Downside. From 1986 through 1988, he was a member of Michael Brecker's quintet and later joined a reunited Brecker Brothers Band, appearing on 1992's Return of the Brecker Brothers.

The following year Mike Stern released Standards (And Other Songs), which led him to being named Best Jazz Guitarist of the Year by the readers and critics of Guitar Player magazine. He followed that up with 1994's Is What It Is and 1996's Between The Lines, both of which received Grammy nominations. In 1997, Mike Stern recorded Give And Take, and won the Orville W. Gibson Award for Best Jazz Guitarist that year. Recent efforts include These Times in 2004, and Who Let the Cats Out in 2006, both featured on the Last Call. Big Neighborhood is another remarkable effort from the veteran guitarist.

From earlier in the year..some other gems for your enjoyment..

Steve Raybine--In The Driver's Seat--Bad Kat Records


The third CD from the "Master of the Mallets", Raybine's latest is his best yet with a vibrant collection of originals and covers delivered with impeccable artistry. The disc gets underway with the energetic "Step It Up" which features a horn section, a new direction for the vibraphonist, who presents three horn fueled numbers on the disc.
Jazz fans looking for familiar territory will find covers of Stanley Turrentine's "Sugar" and Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do For Love". Raybine also steps out as a soloist on inspired readings of jazz classics "Night and Day" and "Summertime".
Some special guests are on board for the new recording, including Alto Saxophonist Nelson Rangell, Flautist Steve Kujala and Alto and Tenor Saxophonist Michael Paulo. The CD is important to note becuase of the fact that Raybine features his fellow Omaha musicians on the disc--a big plus for talented artists such as Keyboardist Dan Cerveny, Drummers Calvin Hansen and Carlos Figueroa, Percussionist Joey Gulizia, and Raybine's own son David who is emerging as a talented tenor saxophonist.
Steve Raybine, a member of the Independent Artist Registry, is an accomplished vibraphonist, percussionist, composer, arranger, author, instructor, educator and clinician. Raybine's music has been showcased on the nation's #1 smooth jazz online radio station, http://www.smoothjazz.com/, and XM satellite radio. An interview with Steve Raybine will be featured on Last Call in August. For more information about Steve Raybine you may visit http://www.steveraybine.com/

Matt Wilson Quartet--That's Gonna Leave A Mark--Palmetto Records

Matt Wilson's exceptional drum artistry has been featured on the Last Call for many years. A master of the  unexpected, Wilson is always a delight to hear as a sideman or bandleader. Matt Wilson has worked with Dena DeRose in recent years as her drummer on several recordings. He also leads Matt Wilson's Arts and Crafts that released two records featured on Last Call: 2004's Wake Up! (To What's Happening) and 2006's The Scenic Route. Wilson also leads a quartet that has just released That's Gonna Leave A Mark. Wilson and Co. take the listener on another freewheeling ride to the frontiers of jazz. With Andrew D’Angelo-alto saxophone, bass clarinet; Jeff Lederer- tenor & soprano saxophone, clarinet and Chris Lightcap- acoustic and electric bass, Wilson skillfully navigates between reflective ballad artistry ("Come and Find the Quiet Center")and sonic burners("Area Man"). Special guests the Swayettes and the Wilson Family Singers contribute on a spirited reading of War's "Why Can't We Be Friends" which closes out this highly recommended disc. For more information you may visit http://www.mattwilsonjazz.com

Josh Berman Quintet--Old Idea--Delmark


The debut as a leader of one of Chicago's most talented jazz musicians, cornetist and composer Josh Berman leads a session which explores the possibilities of group improvisation without a net. Recorded two years ago, it is a very impressive debut with vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz and tenor saxophonist Keefe Jackson, and a rhythm section of bassist Anton Hatwich and drummer Nori Tanakalisten. 





AJ Kluth Quintet--Twice Now--OA2 Records


The debut of another fine Chicago jazz artist, Kluth explores music which seamlessly blends jazz, folk, rock and classical into an accessible disc which is easy to like. With Nick Ascher, electric guitar; Seán McCluskey, piano and fender rhodes; Cory Biggerstaff, double bass and Stefan Czestochowski drums and cymbals; bandleader/tenor and soprano saxophonist AJ Kluth presents a set of compositions by his own pen and the band's guitarist Nick Ascher as well as Chick Corea's "Litha" and Thom Yorke's "Atoms for Peace."

Joel Harrison/Urban Myths/HighNote
Last Call listeners should be familiar with guitarist Joel Harrison. Harrison’s discs have been featured regularly on the program. Harrison’s discography of the last decade has been unpredictable to say the least with an exhilarating mix of  jazz, blues, chamber music, African and Indian folk music, Appalachian tunes and old school country songs. Guitarist Joel Harrison is back with another energetic effort of music which does not disappoint. Inspired by the electric Jazz that influenced him when he was growing up in Washington, DC in the mid and late 1970s, Harrison's Urban Myths presents a solid program of electric jazz which features all original numbers except for a very impressive rendition of Straight No Chaser that is totally unexpected, and a delight. The band is comprised of Joel Harrison, guitar with David Binney - alto saxophone; Christian Howes – violin; Daniel Kelly - keyboards; Stephan Crump - acoustic bass; Jordan Perlson – drums and Fima Ephron, electric bass; Ambrose Akinmuire, trumpet; Corey King, trombone and Jerome Sabbag, tenor saxophone. Selections from Harrison's new disc will be featured on Last Call in addition to a gem or two from his previous efforts. Listen to the Last Call August 1st!

Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Strings/Renegades/Delmark
A response to the flowery sweet flute and string musical arrangements that have been heard on  many jazz records over the years, Mitchell's Black Earth Strings pursue a different path entirely. That path is down a rough and edgy road down through sonic territories at the cutting edge of modern music. The bandleader, Nicole Mitchell, is a composer, educator, and flutist who placed first as Downbeat magazine’s “Rising Star Flutist –2005 through 2008” and was awarded “Jazz Flutist of the Year-2008” by the Jazz Journalist Association and “Chicagoan of the Year-2006” by the Chicago Tribune. Mitchell is also the Co-President of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and the founder of the critically acclaimed Black Earth Ensemble  and Black Earth Strings. On the present volume Black Earth Strings, led by Nicole Mitchell on flute, piccolo and vocals, includes Renee Baker on violin & viola, Tomeka Reid on cello and Josh Abrams on bass, and Shirazette Tinnin on drums and percussion.   The result is an impressive disc of music that draws up the legacy of jazz, gospel, pop and African percussion to create a fascinating mix of “postmodern jazz” that you won't soon forget.

Gary Burton/Pat Metheny/Steve Swallow/Antonio Sanchez/Quartet Live/Concord
It’s a no-brainer actually. The stellar lineup of musicians is enough to assure the listener that the disc is going to be good. And it is. Vibraphonist Gary Burton is with guitarist Pat Metheny, bassist Steve Swallow and Antonio Sanchez on drums. jazz veterans all, this quartet performed in June 2007 at Yoshi's in California and the result is a very satisfying recording. You really can’t be disappointed by the caliber of musicians at work here, mixing burners and ballads and performing a number of Pat Metheny originals to perfection. Highly recommended.

Tony Williams Lifetime/The Collection/Columbia-Legacy
The master drummer at a creative peak. Recorded in July 1975, and in part released previously as "Believe It", this is a very good introduction to the consummate skill of one of the finest drummers in jazz. A program of all originals written by band members(including the noted guitarist Allan Holdsworth)result in musical fireworks of the first order, all driven by William's relentless percussive force. Tony Williams is joined by Allan Holdsworth on guitar, Alan Pasqua on keyboards and Tony Newton on bass and vocals.

Corey Wilkes & Abstrakt Pulse /Cries from Tha Ghetto/Pi Records

Wilkes is a rising star on the international jazz scene. Named to the DownBeat International Critics’ Poll in the Rising Star Trumpet category for the past two years. Wilkes received airplay on Last Call in the last few years with his debut as a leader on the energetic Drop It.

With a combination of fire and artistic maturity Wilkes has rapidly climbed to international renown. He came to the attention of Roscoe Mitchell, a founding member of Chicago’s Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in 2001 at the age of 22. The following year, Wilkes was asked to join The Art Ensemble of Chicago, taking the place of the legendary Lester Bowie who passed away in 1999. Corey Wilkes played on the band’s latest recording: Non-Cognitive Aspects of the City – Recorded Live at the Iridium (Pi20).

The new recording from Corey Wilkes features his band Abstrakt Pulse with Kevin Nabors on tenor, Scott Hesse on guitar, Junius Paul on bass, Isaiah Spencer on drums, and tap dancer Jumaane Taylor, each an up-and-comer on the Chicago scene. The record tastefully combines the accessibility of a mid 1960s Blue Note date with the more adventuresome influence of the AACM. Cries from Tha Ghetto does not disappoint.

John McLauglin-Chick Corea/Five Peace Band Live/Concord

Fans of classic 70s fusion need look no further than to the new 2 disc set from Jazz giants Guitarist John McLaughlin and Pianist Chick Corea. They have formed a new outfit, Five Peace Band, comprised of some of the most accomplished musicians of the past 20 years--Bassist Christian McBride, Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and Saxophonist Kenny Garrett. Herbie Hancock is a special guest on one of the tracks, an outstanding rendition of "In A Silent Way/It's About That Time".

This extended track was orginally recorded in the fertile Miles Davis studio sessions of the late 60s, in which McLaughlin and Corea served as sidemen. Later they went on to form the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever, respectively, in addition to careers as renowned musicians. After working as a sideman for Miles in the 1980s Garrett has enjoyed his own successful career as a saxophonist and bandleader. The Five Peace Band is an astonishing convergence of musical talent which explores the frontiers of jazz in very creative ways.

Fareed Haque + The Flat Earth Ensemble: Flat Planet/Owl Records
Last Call listeners who are fans of the enchanting South Asian rhythms that have fueled recent efforts such as Miles from India will find themselves eager to listen to Fareed Haque's latest. Haque's appearances include the recent Dixon-Rhyne Project effort and the jam band supergroup Haque helped to form, Garaj Mahal. Both of these have been featured on the Last Call previously.  
An educator at Northern Illinois University, Fareed Haque is an accomplished master at both jazz and classical styles of guitar. His virtuosity rapidly becomes apparent as the Flat Earth disc begins to spin-- the fusion of Hindustani folk music and groove jazz in a compelling combination which is hard to resist. Haque leads the outfit which is comprised of David Hartsman on reeds, Rob Clearfield and William Delisfort on keyboards, Alex Austin and John Paul on basses and Cory Healey and Jason Smart at the drums, Subrata Bhattacharya, Jim Fiest and Salar Nader on tablas and Kalyan Pathak on dhol and sticked percussion. Highly recommended.

Richie Goods & Nuclear Fusion: Live at the Zinc Bar/Independent Release
Bassist Richie Goods recorded an outstanding night of live music that was released earlier this year. The date at Greenwich Village's Zinc Bar included Fusion Jazz innovator Drummer Mike Clark whose career includes a legendary stint with Herbie Hancock's Headhunters. Guitarist Jeff Lockhart and Keyboardist Helen Sung complete the band which achieves stunning group interplay on several fusion classics as well as compelling originals by the bandleader. Richie Goods says of the recording: "When the four of us played together for the first time that night at the Zinc Bar, I knew the equation was balanced. I could only marvel as this perfect mix of talent and energy became like a nuclear explosion, igniting the stage and exciting the audience in one beautiful chain reaction. The best way I can describe what moved through me as we played was that Holy Ghost feeling you get after a good sermon in church. Just like the chemical reaction for which the band is named, the members of Nuclear Fusion create an energy that is so much more than any of us individually. That’s how good music is made."

Rob Mazurek Quintet/Sound Is/Delmark Records
Probing the frontiers of Jazz, trumpeter Rob Mazurek and his quintet explore a program of all originals which vary from celestial meditations to full throttle explosions of sound. Mazurek, on the cornet, synth and piano, leads this fearless outfit which includes John Herndon on drums and percussion, Matthew Lux  on bass guitar, Josh Abrams on acoustic bass and piano and Jason Adasiewicz on the vibraphone.  The debut record of the quintet is a must have for fans of cutting edge music.

Omar Sosa Sextet/ Across The Divide/Half-Note Records
Led by Cuban Pianist Omar Sosa, this sextet recording is an Ancient to the Future musical listening experience, deeply grounded in ancient Afro-Cuban rhythms and yet boldly exploring the frontiers of electronic sound. The pianist's artistic conception is propelled by his deep spirituality and respect for the voices of his ancestors. The result is a profoundly moving experience of swirling, dreamlike music which at times recalls the Herbie Hancock Mwandishi Band.   

Lisa Sokolov/A Quiet Thing/Laughinghorse Records
When I first heard Lisa Sokolov a few years ago I was amazed. Her vocal delivery is unlike any Jazz vocalist I have ever heard. In her freewheeling delivery which can go unexpectedly from an intimate whisper to a passionate shout, Lisa mines the depth of human experience without fear--and in doing so is a very welcome presence. On her new recording A Quiet Thing Lisa follows up her 2004 release Presence(which receieved 5 Stars in Downbeat Magazine) with another disc which explores standards in ways never before conceived or attempted--with astonishing results. Memorable vocal solo performances at the piano are mixed with recordings with John DiMartino on keyboards, Cameron Brown on bass and others. Lisa is also a noted educator, and is the Director of The Institute for Embodied VoiceWork in New York.

The Bad Plus: For All I Care/Heads Up Records

This band has earned a reputation over the last several years as iconoclasts. An acquired taste to many, refreshingly outrageous to others, The Bad Plus is joined by vocalist Wendy Lewis on this new effort. Once again, The Bad Plus-Reid Anderson on bass, Ethan Iverson on piano, and David King on drums, with the addition of Lewis, present a remarkable session of originals and covers of pop and rock tunes delivered in a jazz context.  But that context is delivered in the trademark Bad Plus style--the fearless free-spirited demolition of expected chord structure and melody into something completely unexpected. Listen to versions of "Barracuda", "Lithium", and "How Deep Is Your Love" for examples of the band in peak form. The Bad Plus website is www.thebadplus.com . Listen to my interview with Reid Anderson available through www.kios.org.

Joshua Redman/ Compass/ Nonesuch
Redman's latest is a delightful mix of straight-ahead and avant-garde tracks that are enhanced by the presence of two bassists and drummers on many of the tracks. Listeners may recall that similar approaches to creating music were tried in the late 1960s and early 1970s, for comparison's sake Les McCann did in fact use two bassists as well as multiple drummers/percussionists for his legendary recording, Invitation to Openness. For this 2009 date with saxophonist Redman, the bandleader is joined by bassists Larry Grenadier and Reuben Rogers and drummers Brian Blade and Gregory Hutchinson. The disc features a suite of tunes that voyages through late night territory marked by signposts such as "Insomniac", "Moonlight", and "Ghost". Their appeal is hard to resist if you are a fan of progressive jazz. The son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman, Joshua has been a constant presence on the international jazz scene since the late 1990s, recording and performing worldwide. Last summer he performed at the prestigious Iowa City Jazz Festival.  Last Call host Chris Cooke recently interviewed Joshua Redman over the phone, and he discussed in detail his music and influences and the new record. That interview is available at www.kios.org on the Last Call page.

Rudresh Mahanthappa's Indo-Pak Coalition/ Apti / Innova
Saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa is an incredibly prolific artist. Bursting on the scene just a few years ago, he had demonstrated his rich, sublime artistry on many records. His Indian-American heritage informs this talented reedman whose voice is unlike any saxophonist heard previously by this reviewer--and is richly rewarding. Mahanthappa's appearance on the Grammy nominated 2008 Miles from India was further confirmation of his place on the international music scene. The saxophonist's latest recording features a trio comprised of the reedman with Rez Abbasi on guitars and Dan Weiss on tabla. The results are intoxicating-check out the title track and "Adana" for a stimulating listening experience, which is only the beginning on another rewarding date with Rudresh Mahanthappa.

Joe Zawinul and the Zawinul Syndicate/ 75 / Heads Up
He lived 75 years and in those years became the greatest electronic keyboardist in all of jazz. The Cannonball Adderley pianist whose work with Miles Davis helped launch fusion jazz, Joe Zawinul is also known for co-founding the jazz supergroup Weather Report. Since the late 1980s Zawinul has lead his own band which has created an intoxicating mix of jazz and world music. The keyboard legend recorded a series of powerful live performances  with his Zawinul Syndicate in the summer of 2007 at the Lugano Jazz Festival. The band included Zawinul on keyboards; Sabine Kabongo on vocals and percussion; Alegre Correa on guitar and vocals and berimbau; Linley Marthe on bass; and Paco Serry on drums and percussion and vocals & Jorge Bezerra and Aziz Sahmaoui on percussion and vocals. Spirited performances of familiar Zawinul tunes such as Fast City/Two Lines and Badia/Boogie Woogie Waltz are presented. Also included in this very special two disc set is a very moving final live performance with Weather Report co-founder Wayne Shorter of "In a Silent Way." For Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter & Weather Report fans, this 14 minute long heartfelt duet is worth the cost of the two CDs. Performed on August 2, 2007 at Veszprem, Hungary, this was the next to last performance of Zawinul’s life. Joe Zawinul passed away on September 11, 2007.
This is a very fitting tribute to his immense talent and musical genius.

The Rocco John Group/Devotion/Creative Artists Productions
The latest release from this band based out of the New York area, the Rocco John Group continues to create their own potent mix of Avant Garde jazz. Led by saxophonist Rocco John Iacovone, Iacovone's music is as strongly influenced by John Coltrane's spiritual message as it is the lessons learned from studying with saxophone greats Sam Rivers and Lee Konitz. The result is a solid session that engages and challenges the listener, comprised of all originals. Riffin' For Eric, Mischievous Mystic and Dreams are standalone gems from the disc which also contains the ambitious and inspired Devotion Suite. Iacovone, who leads the band on alto and soprano saxophones, is joined by Mike Irwin on trumpet, Aaron Keane on Bass and Dalius Naujokaitis on drums and percussion. For more information you may visit www.roccojohnmusic.com . 

The Avant-Garde legacy of Blue Note records to be featured throughout 2009..Simply put, I had too much music to play for you from Blue Note in January!! This jazz host barely scratched the surface of the rich catalog of Blue Note avant-garde recordings. So, I will continue to present from time to time more gems from this rich treasury of music throughout the year. That music was not created in a vacuum. The 1960s was a time of great political and social upheaval. Vietnam, the Civil Rights Movement, assassinations, and the emerging youth counterculture created a well of inspiration for musicians of all kinds. Jazz musicians in many cases, emboldened by the freeing of chord constraints, were emotionally moved by the swirling and turbulent circumstances of their time to create music which reflected that uncertain feeling. Sessions led by Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams and others on Blue Note in the 1960s explored the frontiers of jazz and, eventually, presented recordings that heralded the birth of jazz rock with a bold mix of acoustic and electronic instrumentation.