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Amirtha Kidambi, composer and singer
“Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace” by Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln
Singers who are unfortunately underrated in the idiom “avant-garde” or “free jazz,” tend to favor those who destroy the instrument in a not-so-subtle patriarchal way. Abbey Lincoln’s incredibly powerful vocals and artistry are extremely marginalized, rarely mentioned except in tandem with Max Roach because of their romantic entanglement. Lincoln, who passed 2010, is to me the definition of a pioneer, light years ahead of her time in her abstract, expressive, and wordless pronunciation of the famous civil rights era suite. the sound of “We Insert! Freedom now” (1964), with Roach, Coleman Hawkins and Olatunji, among other primitive jazz instrumentalists.
What I like about Lincoln is that she doesn’t mind getting dirty and ugly, instinctively annoying the listener. She uses what academics are called “expanding techniques” in her growls, screams, and shrill voice, a term I hate because of her usual European bias. It. Instead of “expanding” the vocal instrument, I see Lincoln exploiting its maximum emotional range and absolute necessity, something that is only approximated when imitated with the trumpet and other instruments. She’s especially powerful and effective in “Triptych: Prayer/Protest/Peace,” in conversation with Roach’s drumming, screaming, screaming, and screaming in pain, in real time. for the tumultuous years of racial struggle and violence in America. Lincoln was not a dinner club singer, not interested in light entertainment and more concerned with keeping the audience awake. Now we can also use Lincoln’s voice and message.
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Marcus J. Moore, jazz writer
“The Footsteps” by Cecil Taylor
When we talk about the beginnings of free and avant-garde jazz, we usually think of Ornette Coleman and start there. It makes sense, given the courage he took to name his 1959 album “The Shape of Jazz To Come,” then add challenging structures that are hard to argue with. For me, however, I have always considered Cecil Taylor to be the premier purveyor of avant-garde style, his rolled piano chords nestled between the unrelenting waves of drums and saxophones. Perhaps no song exemplifies this better than “Steps,” the opening track from his 1966 album “Unit Structures.” I’ve always liked feeling precarious, organized, and chaotic at the same time. A complex melody with bright colors and powerful tonal arrangements, “Steps” also confronts my sensibilities, leaving me a little uneasy. But that’s why I appreciate it the most. It’s a reminder that jazz can soothe and excite, that just because something is easy and comfortable doesn’t mean it’s better.
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VCR, recording artist, violinist and composer
“The Creator Has a Master Plan” by Pharoah Sanders
Growing up as a child of a preacher in Memphis, my world was filled with cognitive dissonance. At home school, my father taught me the basics of music theory and composition. During this time, I was only allowed to study two genres: gospel and classical. While this may seem like a hard disadvantage, I now see how that rigid upbringing has become the foundation of my musical career today.
Fast-forward to 2016 and I’m sitting in my bedroom in Dallas. At the time, I was just experimenting with writing my own songs. I want to create audiovisual and soul-stirring music. My art will be healed and palpable. During my search, I came across the book “The Creator Has a Master Plan” by Pharoah Sanders. From the very first second, I was captivated by the rumbling saxophone. Very different from my classic background; you can feel the musicians breathing together and freely transmitting “holy ghosts”, as they say. Suddenly, the song turns into a hymn-like hymn but no words are uttered. The tune was repetitive, like the prayer services I grew up with. Then, a delicate solo voice splits the sea of sounds, with “The Creator has a working plan…”
Warm tears streamed down my face, and I knew my search was over. This is the blueprint, and Pharoah is my guru. I knew from that moment my music would have to come from the same channel and carry his message. I am forever grateful to Pharoah Sanders for my personal paradigm shift and pray everyone experiences that level of happiness.
