Compulsion cover

Compulsion

Released

It’s a sign of how Blue Note heard Hill that designer Reid Miles tended to slather his album covers in exclamation marks; Compulsion carries five. The music bears that out; it’s one of the freest, most aggressive records the label ever released. It features a rare appearance by saxophonist John Gilmore outside of the Sun Ra Arkestra, and two percussionists playing congas and African drums. Hill’s own playing is shockingly percussive, entering Cecil Taylor territory, and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, who had played on John Coltrane’s Ascension just four months earlier, demonstrates once again his deep understanding of avant-garde music.

Phil Freeman

Suggestions
Theirs cover

Theirs

Thumbscrew
Hear You Say cover

Hear You Say

Ray Anderson, Marty Ehrlich
12 Comp (ZIM) 2017 cover

12 Comp (ZIM) 2017

Anthony Braxton
Simulacrum cover

Simulacrum

John Zorn
Ninety Miles cover

Ninety Miles

David Sanchez, Harold Lopez Nussa, Christian Scott, Stefon Harris
Since Time Is Gravity  cover

Since Time Is Gravity

Natural Information Society
The Bandwagon cover

The Bandwagon

Jason Moran