Live at Ali's Alley

Live at Ali's Alley
Live album by
Ahmed Abdullah
Released1980
RecordedApril 24, 1978
VenueAli's Alley, New York City
GenreJazz
LabelCadence
CJR 1000
ProducerBob Rusch, TeaEl Productions
Ahmed Abdullah chronology
Life's Force
(1979) 		Live at Ali's Alley
(1980) 		Liquid Magic
(1987)

Live at Ali's Alley is a live album by trumpeter Ahmed Abdullah, listed simply as "Abdullah" on the cover. It was recorded on April 24, 1978, at New York City's Ali's Alley, and released on vinyl in 1980 by Cadence Jazz Records as the label's inaugural release. On the album, Abdullah is joined by saxophonist Chico Freeman, hornist Vincent Chancey, cellist Muneer Abdul Fatah, bassist Jerome Hunter, and drummer Rashied Sinan.[1][2][3][4]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz[5]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[6]
MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide[7]

A reviewer for AllMusic stated that the album is "symbolic of the decade's 'loft' jazz, a free-wheeling date with uneven but often compelling solos, as well as periods of rambling, unproductive, and ragged ensemble work. Freeman's blistering tenor sax is uniformly inspired, while Abdullah's solos are also aggressive and energetic."[1]

The authors of MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide called the recording "a loft-jazz classic with an unusual instrumentation including French horn and cello plus tenor saxophonist Chico Freeman in an inspired, fiery mood."[7]

Track listing

Side A
  1. "Happiness is Forever" (Ahmed Abdullah) – 27:42
Side B
  1. "Self Portrait in Three Colors" (Charles Mingus) – 3:46
  2. "The Inch Worm Part I" (Frank Loesser) – 10:45
  3. "The Inch Worm Part II" (Frank Loesser) – 9:29

Personnel

References

  1. ^ a b c "Ahmed Abdullah: Live at Ali's Alley". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "Ahmed Abdullah - Live at Ali's Alley". Jazz Music Archives. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  3. ^ "Cadence Jazz Records discography: main series". JazzLists. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  4. ^ Jenkins, Todd S. (2004). "Cadence". Free Jazz and Free Improvisation: An Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. Greenwood. p. 72.
  5. ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2004). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz. Virgin Books. p. 6.
  6. ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford University Press. p. 18.
  7. ^ a b Lee, Nancy Ann; Holtje, Steve, eds. (1998). MusicHound Jazz: The Essential Album Guide. Schirmer Trade Books. p. 2.