By Thomas Semioli

A master supportive and countermelodic player with an earthy tone, Jimmy Garrison is most noted for his 1961-66 association with John Coltrane – especially A Love Supreme (1965) wherein his repetitive opening motif is among the most recognized bass passages in recorded music.

Garrison came to prominence on the Philadelphia jazz scene in the 1960s, where such bassists as Reggie Workman and Henry Grimes were his peers.  Garrison would eventually go on to replace Workman in Coltrane’s ensembles.  Jimmy also waxed sides with Ornette Coleman: Ornette on Tenor (1962), New York Is Now (1968), Love Call (1968) and The Art of Improvisors (recorded 1959 and released in 1970).

A composer and collaborative recording artist with Elvin Jones, Garrison provided the solid anchor for his soloist’s harmonic and rhythmic explorations. Aside from Trane and Ornette, Jimmy waxed exceptional sides with Archie Shepp, Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Larry Coryell, and Alice Coltrane, to cite a few.      

Jimmy Garrison Sound & Vision…

John Coltrane “A Love Supreme” Pt. 1 “Acknowledgement” https://youtu.be/TMvbUKqWYEs

Ornette Coleman “Cross Breeding” https://youtu.be/7Z70ajQNMJg

Alice Coltrane “Lovely Sky Boat” https://youtu.be/rhmwChxResw

Sonny Rollins “East Broadway Rundown” https://youtu.be/-hHXhnKEmpM

The Elvin Jones Trio live with Jimmy Garrison and Joe Farrell https://youtu.be/p1FlNbFc3EM

Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison “Half and Half” https://youtu.be/5iT53h0iHww

By Thomas Semioli

A giant of the instrument and among the most innovative, identifiable, and creative electric jazz bassists, the player born Rudy McDaniel in Hempstead Long Island, and raised in Philadelphia hardly garners recognition outside the free jazz / free funk / fusion / avant-garde / experimental circles.

Tacuma made his name as the anchor of Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time collective as a 19-year-old in 1975 on three watershed slabs: Dancing In Your Head, Body Meta, and Of Human Feelings.   

In the 80s Jamaaladeen commenced to recording under his own name, waxing several sides which erased the boundaries of funk, pop, jazz, world, and every permutation thereof.

Among Tacuma’s impressive sideman credits include Nona Hendryx, The Golden Palominos, Wolfgang Pusching, Linda Sharrock, Marc Ribot, and James Blood Ulmer to cite a select few.

A multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, educator, composer, collaborator – Tacuma has been recognized by his peers with several prestigious awards and hosts the annual Outsiders Improvised Musical Festival.

Citing Val Burke and James Jamerson as, Jamaaladeen’s more recognizable weapons of choice include the Rickenbacker 4001, Fender Jazz, Steinberger XL, WAV Radius, and WAV Radius Upright.

Dig Jamaaladeen with Max Roach and Carlos Santana https://youtu.be/oWIe6Benbu0

Dig Jamaaladeen with The Last Poets https://youtu.be/oWIe6Benbu0

Dig Jamaaladeen with Ornette and Prime Time https://youtu.be/hSzC3ICoOds

By Thomas Semioli

I find that the best bass players are as supportive when we’re off duty as when we’re in the studio and/or on the bandstand. Witness the life of Charlie Haden. A master soloist, accompanist, and composer who drew his inspiration from country to classical to world music (which he helped create), Charlie Haden’s historic tenure with Ornette Coleman, and genre defying collaborations with artists ranging from Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny, Art Pepper, Beck, Abbey Lincoln, Alice Coltrane, John Scofield, Yoko Ono, Michael Brecker, and Paul Motian to cite a very few, continue to expand the language of jazz and improvised music.

The Liberation Music Orchestra, under the direction Charlie Haden and Carla Bley provided a musical platform to challenge militarism, apartheid, conflicts against military dictatorships funded by hegemonic governments, oppression of indigenous peoples, racism, sexism, violations of civil rights, environmental irresponsibility, and economic injustice, among many other issues that do not have a strong voice in a mainstream American culture obsessed with celebrity.

A musical giant who spoke truth to power through his artistry regardless of the consequences- Mr. Haden said of his Liberation Music Orchestra “I always dreamed of a world without cruelty and greed, of a humanity with the same creative brilliance of our solar system, of an America worthy of the dreams of Martin Luther King, and the majesty of the Statue of Liberty. This music is dedicated to those who still dream of a society with compassion, deep creative intelligence, and a respect for the preciousness of life for our children, and for our future.”

Dig Charlie Haden and Keith Jarrett https://youtu.be/m9B24FrCOaQ