Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Rashied Al Akbar / Muhammad Ali / Earl Cross / Idris Ack...

4

Rashied Al Akbar / Muhammad Ali / Earl Cross / Idris Ackamoor: Ascent of the Nether Creatures

By

Sign in to view read count
Rashied Al Akbar / Muhammad Ali / Earl Cross / Idris Ackamoor: Ascent of the Nether Creatures
The Lithuanian based No Business label deserves an award for its unstinting documentation of the loft jazz scene in NYC during the 1970s and early '80s. Often characterized as a time when nothing was happening, the reality couldn't be further from the truth. With the influx of new talent from the mid-West and California, the performance spaces of lower Manhattan were a hotbed of new ideas, new alliances and experimental fervor. Although not the location, that's the zeitgeist which gave rise to the quartet of journeymen captured on Ascent of the Nether Creatures from a 1980 concert at an unnamed venue in the Netherlands.

Trumpeter Earl Cross may be the best known of the foursome: he recorded with reedmen Charles Tyler and Noah Howard, as well as drummer Rashied Ali,while saxophonist Idris Ackamoor also cut his teeth with Tyler, and flew further below the critical radar with the Pyramids spiritual jazz collective. The polyphonic blending of Cross' waspish angularities and Ackamoor's sinuous legato is what creates the excitement on this date. However on bass Rashied Al Akbar furnishes a sturdy foundation in tandem with drummer Muhammad Ali (brother of the more famous Rashied).

Ackamoor's two part title track, straddling both sides of the limited edition LP, provides the most compelling evidence of the unit's worth. It begins in a miasma of exotica, with tinkling bells, rustling and flutes presaging a bittersweet colloquy between muted trumpet and bowed bass. After a wistful hymn like theme, Cross' painterly smears atop walking bass provide an attractive backdrop to the author's flowing alto saxophone, which with its yelping overtones, hints at the reedman's mastery of circular breathing as a means to increase the impact of his lines.

The empathetic relationship between trumpet and bass also proves central to the group sound on the dirge-like "Evenings," while the concluding "4 For 1" comprises a series of unaccompanied solos linked by brief snatches of full-blooded blow out, and acts as a calling card for the band's wares. Although occasional audience chatter gives a clue to the origins of the tape, the levels are sufficiently low that it doesn't impede enjoyment of the spirited and still vital music.

Track Listing

Earl's Tune; Ascent of the Nether Creatures; Ascent of the Nether Creatures continued; Evenings; 4 For 1.

Personnel

Earl Cross: trumpet; Idris Ackamoor: alto and tenor saxophones; Rashied Al Akbar: bass; Muhammad Ali: drums.

Album information

Title: Ascent of the Nether Creatures | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: NoBusiness Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.