Jamaaladeen Tacuma Renaissance Man CD

Jamaaladeen Tacuma's second free funk effort for Gramavision originally released in 1984. Eight tracks.

Personnel: Jamaaladeen Tacuma (electric bass, percussion, programming); Howie Montaug (vocals); Ornette Coleman, James R. Watkins (alto saxophone); David Murray (tenor saxophone); Olu Dara (cornet, African flute); Vernon Reid, Rick Iannacone, Charles Ellerbe (guitar); Cornell Rochester, Bill Bruford (drums); Daryl Burgee (African gymbe drum); Bob Zollman (tympani, percussion); Daniel Ponce, Ron Howerton, Verna Gillis (percussion); Greg Mann (programming).
The Ebony String Quartet: Kathleen Thomas, Cynthia Shoats (violin); Nina Wilkenson (viola); Aaron Henderson (cello).
Engineers include: Greg Mann, Reinhard Zwierlein, Phil Nicollo.
Recorded at Studio 4, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Gramavision Recording Studio, Unique Recording, New York, New York; Sinus Musik, Berlin, Germany.
Personnel: Jamaaladeen Tacuma (electric guitar, electric bass, bass guitar, 5-string bass, fretless bass, hand claps, programming, drum programming, electronics); Vern Reed, Charles Ellerbee, Rick Iannacone, Vernon Reid (electric guitar); Cynthia Shoats, Kathleen Thomas (violin); Nina Wilkenson (viola); Aaron Henderson (cello); Olu Dara (flute, cornet); James Watkins, Ornette Coleman (alto saxophone); David Murray (tenor saxophone); Cornell Rochester, Daryl Burgee, Bill Bruford (drums); Bob Zollman (timpani, percussion); Daniel Ponce (hand claps, percussion); Verna Gillis (hand claps); Ron Howerton (percussion, electronic percussion); Gregg Mann (programming, drum programming).
Audio Mixer: Gregg Mann.
Recording information: Gramavision Recording Studio, NY (1983-1984); Sinus Musik, Berlin, Germany (1983-1984); Studio 4, Philadephia (1983-1984); Unique Recording Studio (1983-1984).
Photographer: Brian Hagiwara.
Arranger: Jamaaladeen Tacuma.
Jamaaladeen Tacuma's second free funk effort for Gramavision is almost the equal of his first (Show Stopper). Once again the first four songs feature his regular band (a quintet with guitarist Rick Iannacone and altoist James Watkins) while the second half of the program showcases his electric bass in diverse groups. "Dancing in Your Head" has some of the members of Ornette Coleman's Prime Time (including the innovative altoist); Tacuma often played with Ornette during this period. The lengthy "The Battle of Images" features Tacuma with the Ebony String Quartet and a percussionist, "There He Stood" has the leader joined by percussionists and a poet. Best is "Sparkle," a jam with tenor saxophonist David Murray and guitarist Vernon Reid. Alththugh a bit of a mixed bag, this set should appeal to listeners open to both the avant-garde and eccentric funk. ~ Scott Yanow