Articles by Hank Shteamer

Tisziji Munoz: Divine Radiance

by Hank Shteamer
July 25, 2003

Quick! Name a shredding electric guitarist heavily influenced by late-period John Coltrane... If you said Sonny Sharrock, you're probably not alone; Sharrock built a career out of translating the turbo-charged tenor saxophone sounds of Coltrane, Albert Ayler and other first-generation avant-garde players to the guitar. Few know, however, that Sharrock, who seems peerless, has company in this arena. When the sextet led by guitarist Tisziji Muñoz, and featuring Coltrane collaborators Pharoah Sanders (who also worked with Sharrock) ...

Jackie McLean: Jackie's Bag

by Hank Shteamer
May 5, 2003

Alto saxophonist Jackie McLean's Jackie's Bag is an enjoyable, if not terribly unique, manifestation of vintage Blue Note hard bop: hard-swinging, impeccably performed and recorded in gorgeous, crisp stereo by Rudy Van Gelder. The material on Jackie's Bag comes from two different sessions, each with a different supporting cast (Jan. ‘59, with Donald Byrd on trumpet, Sonny Clark on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums; and Sept. ‘60, with Blue Mitchell on ...

Rashied Ali

by Hank Shteamer
March 31, 2003

Rashied Ali is a survivor. Best known for replacing Elvin Jones as John Coltrane's drummer of choice in the mid-sixties, Ali has sustained himself as a working, thriving musician right through to the present day. Since his stint with Trane, Ali has founded a label, Survival Records, and a club, Ali's Alley; led countless groups in styles from funk to free; and mentored many young musicians (including John Coltrane's son, Ravi) while constantly refining his remarkable technique.

Ali performs in ...