Here’s a pianist I guarantee you’ve never heard before, as he only did (to my knowledge) only this one session as a leader and then dropped off into even deeper obscurity. Pianist Hasaan Ibn Ali was discovered by drummer Max Roach, who in 1965 convinced Atlantic Records producer Nusuhi Ertegun to record him. This album rom August and September of that year have Ali in a quartet setting with future Roach tenor saxist Odean Pope, Coltrane alumnus Art Davis at bass and drummer Kalil Madi on drums. This ten song album includes three “short” versions of the original songs on the seven tuned release, and the music is a simple reflection on how fresh everything sounded back in the day.
Ali’s touch is rooted in bebop, with a high influence by Thelonious Monk, but with a lighter, more elliptical sound a la Herbie Nichols and a rich confident full fisted thud like Randy Weston. The rhythm team is crisp and hip, and snaps to “Viceroy” and does some fun stop-start on “El Hasaan”. Ali’s touch is warm and pretty on the ballad “Richard May Love Give Powell” and mixes traditional stride/bop with Monk prismatic harmonies on “Atlantic Ones” and “Epitome”, with Pope a perfect and thick toned foil. Davis does some nice soloing around Ali’s full fists on “True Train” as well, making this album wonder what else is being kept from us. This one is a true gem. Find it and cherish its freshness!