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Reedist John Carter and cornetist Bobby Bradford were pioneers of free jazz on the west coast, adapting to their own magnificent end the concepts of fellow Texas native Ornette Coleman, who in 1965 happened to suggest their partnership. Their band employed a variety of rhythm-section members over the years, but the one here is probably the best, with bassist Tom Williamson and drummer Bruz Freeman, the elder brother of Von and George Freeman. Williamson is an endless source of energy, loosely tracing forms of each piece with a frenetic yet controlled propulsion that almost seems like the blueprint for what William Parker has been doing the last few decades. Freeman fit in perfectly with the front line in using deep foundations in hard bop and swing to push outward, chopping up time into little self-contained packets of rhythmic counterpoint and vivid asides. Both bassist and drummer supported the structure of the compositions without ever boxing the horn players in.
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Peter Margasak writes about jazz every Friday.
