Don Pullen

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Don Pullen (1988)

Don Pullen (born December 25, 1941 in Roanoke , Virginia , † April 22, 1995 in East Orange , New Jersey ) was an American jazz pianist who, according to Scott Yanow, developed surprisingly easy access to avant-garde jazz on his instrument . "Even when he made use of relatively conventional structures, he shook nimble cascades of sound from his right sleeve that were not as percussive as Cecil Taylor's , but more flowing and at least as exciting."

Live and act

Don Pullen, who came from a musical family, began his career as an accompanist to gospel singers in churches. He studied medicine and music and came into contact with jazz music for the first time and made his first experiences with free play in Muhal Richard Abrams ' Experimental Band . After completing his studies, he settled in New York from 1964 and played there with various, more avant-garde jazz musicians, including Milford Graves and Giuseppi Logan . With these he also recorded his first records in order to then work with Nina Simone , the alto saxophonist Charles Williams and the Jazz Messengers . From 1973 to 1976, like George Adams, he belonged to the group of Charles Mingus (including albums Changes One / Two , DVD Live At Montreux ). He then worked with various musicians, such as Hamiet Bluiett , Sam Rivers , Chico Freeman and Joseph Jarman . In 1979 he founded the "George Adams / Don Pullen Quartet" with George Adams (saxophone), Dannie Richmond (drums) and Cameron Brown (bass), which existed until the death of Richmond in 1988 and is considered one of the leading combos of the decade and overall Has recorded 13 records.

In his later work he dealt with ethnic influences, for example with the African-Brazilian Connection , which he founded in 1991. Three albums have been released with this group. Shortly before his death, he recorded the album Sacred Common Ground with an extended line-up (with an Indian choir and percussionists) , where he dealt with his indigenous American roots. At the same time he played 1991–1993 with the saxophone group "Roots" (with, among others, Arthur Blythe , Sam Rivers and Chico Freeman; DVD Salute To The Saxophone ) and also often appeared in a small cast, mostly in a trio with James Genus or Hilliard Greene ( Bass) and Lewis Nash or Cindy Blackman (drums). There is a trio recording with Genus / Nash. Recently he has also made more organ recordings again (for example in a quartet with David Murray and with Maceo Parker ).

In addition to the “main line” outlined above, Pullen was on tour with the Leaders and also worked on recordings by Jane Bunnett , Herbie Mann , Marcello Melis and other jazz musicians as well as on several recordings by Kip Hanrahan . He can be heard on over 90 records and CDs .

Discographic notes

Lexical entries

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ B. Priestley in Jazz Rough Guide

Remarks


personal data
SURNAME Pullen, Don
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz pianist
DATE OF BIRTH December 25, 1941
PLACE OF BIRTH Roanoke , Virginia, USA
DATE OF DEATH April 22, 1995
Place of death East Orange , New Jersey, USA