Bassist Joris Teepe puts together a combination 60 page book and cd in tribute to legendary drummer Rashied Ali who befriended him back when he first arrived in the US and transformed his musical direction. Teepe’s tribute is in conjunction with drummer John Betsch, a man also influenced by free spirited, and along with Freddie Bryant/g, Wayne Escoffery/ts, Johannes Enders/ts and Michael Moore/as produce some rich loose and warm spirited readings of material by the likes of Frank Lowe, Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Thelonious Monk and the leader himself.
The molasses thick tenors contemplate over the loose pulse on “Multi Kulti” and are post bop bluesy for “Holland America” and “Alphabet.” Ali’s own “Rashied Ali Suite” is a frisky 10 minute excursion with some conversant drumming, and a pair of Monk tunes (“Think of One” and “Bolivar Blues”) are accentuated by saxophone harmonics and fun gooey textures, while “Sidewalks in motion features a heartfelt lyricism by the leader. The spirit is alive on this one.