BLUES ARTIST BIRTHDAY:
Darrell Nulisch (1952) - Nulisch grew up on soul singers like Otis Redding and Al Green, inspiring him to take up a similar path and work on his voice. He was a founding member of Anson Funderburgh's Rockets and sang with that group in the '80s, when he also did time in groups like Ronnie Earl's Broadcasters. He eventually left Texas and started a solo career in 1991, relocating to Boston and releasing albums that showcased his incredible blues-harmonica skills and his passionate voice. Even legendary soul singer James Cotton asked Nulisch to work with his touring band when he lost his voice, giving Nulisch a chance to work with someone he admired. He continued his solo efforts into the next century, releasing the critically acclaimed I Like It That Way in the spring of 2000.
JAZZ ARTIST BIRTHDAY:
Oliver Lake (1942) - Oliver Lake is an explosively unpredictable soloist, somewhat akin to Eric Dolphy in the ultra-nimble manner in which he traverses the full range of his main horn, the alto. Lake's astringent saxophone sound is his trademark -- piercing, bluesy, and biting in the manner of a Maceo Parker, it was a perfect lead voice for the World Saxophone Quartet, the band with which Lake has arguably made his most enduring music. In the late 1960s, Oliver became a founding member of the Black Artists Group in St. Louis. Since moving to New York to participate in the "Creative Music" revolution of the mid 70's, Oliver has performed in a wide array of contexts from the Oliver Lake Quartet and his groundbreaking Roots/Reggae/Jazz group. Oliver is also an original member of the acclaimed World Saxophone Quartet and has toured widely with two performance pieces "The Life Dance Of Is" and "Matador." As a composer, arranger, saxophonist, flautist, poet and conceptualizer, Oliver Lake embodies all the tenets of the Creative music idea. He is above all else, an original artist.
JAZZ ALBUM RECORDED:
Albert Ayler – Ghosts (1964)
Track Listing:
1. Ghosts
2. Children
3. Holy Spirit
4. Ghosts
5. Vibrations
6. Mothers
Review by Scott Yanow at Allmusic:
1964 was a busy year for Albert Ayler, who recorded at least seven albums worth of material. This particular session, a quartet date with trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Sunny Murray, was probably his most significant of the period. Switching between tenor and alto, Ayler is often ferocious on the six performances, jumping from simple melodies (of which "Ghosts" is the most memorable) to intense sound explorations overflowing with emotion; he even makes Cherry seem conservative. It helps greatly to have open ears to appreciate this music, although Ayler's jams would become a bit more accessible the following year. Recommended.
1. Ghosts
2. Children
3. Holy Spirit
4. Ghosts
5. Vibrations
6. Mothers
Review by Scott Yanow at Allmusic:
1964 was a busy year for Albert Ayler, who recorded at least seven albums worth of material. This particular session, a quartet date with trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Sunny Murray, was probably his most significant of the period. Switching between tenor and alto, Ayler is often ferocious on the six performances, jumping from simple melodies (of which "Ghosts" is the most memorable) to intense sound explorations overflowing with emotion; he even makes Cherry seem conservative. It helps greatly to have open ears to appreciate this music, although Ayler's jams would become a bit more accessible the following year. Recommended.
