James Blood Ulmer & Music Revelation Ensemble – No Wave (CD1072)

No Wave is the debut album of the Music Revelation Ensemble, the band led by guitarist James Blood Ulmer together with saxophonist David Murray. The line-up is completed by Amin Ali on electric bass and Ronald Shannon Jacksonon drums. It was recorded in June 1980 at Studio 57 in Düsseldorf.

The music is free jazz that hits like rock. Ulmer’s raw, blues-soaked guitar meets Murray’s tenor sax over a heavy, funky rhythm section. The result is wild collective improvisation that stays grounded in groove. The four long tracks, “Time Table”, “Big Tree”, “Baby Talk” and “Sound Check”, show a band working where downtown New York avant-garde meets electric energy. This sound pointed the way to much of the black rock and jazz-punk that came later.

Bonus on this CD: tracks 5–12 come from a second session led by tenor saxophonist Odean Pope, with Gerald Veasley on electric bass and Cornell Rochester on drums. They were recorded at Procom Studio.

Produced by Burkhard Hennen and released on Moers Music. When you buy here, you’re buying directly from the label, and we only sell originals.

Tracklist

Music Revelation Ensemble – No Wave (Studio 57, Düsseldorf, June 1980)

1. Time Table – 10:00

2. Big Tree – 8:45

3. Baby Talk – 9:36

4. Sound Check – 8:06

Odean Pope session (Procom Studio)
5. Elixir – 2:19
6. Almost Like Me – 7:31
7. Multiphonics – 4:46
8. Scorpio Twins – 4:11
9. No Air – 4:30
10. Kyle’s Theme – 3:01
11. Mwalimu – 4:33
12. Good Question – 5:00

Personnel

Tracks 1–4:

• James Blood Ulmer – electric guitar, vocals

• David Murray – tenor saxophone

• Amin Ali – electric bass

• Ronald Shannon Jackson – drums, percussion

Tracks 5–12:

• Odean Pope – tenor saxophone, vocals

• Gerald Veasley – electric bass

• Cornell Rochester – drums

Details

• Format: CD

• Label: Moers Music

• Catalog no.: CD1072

• Recorded: June 1980, Studio 57, Düsseldorf (tracks 1–4); Procom Studio (tracks 5–12)

• Producer: Burkhard Hennen

• Price: €14.00