Shakill’s Warrior
Released
This 1992 release is one of Murray’s mellowest non-ballad releases; it’s an organ jazz date with Don Pullen at the keys, Stanley Franks on guitar, and Andrew Cyrille on drums. Cyrille’s innate precision and sharp, cracking snare are perfect for these bluesy, soulful grooves, and Franks mostly stays out of the way as Pullen and Murray dig deep without ever exploding the way the listener might expect. This is old-school soul jazz in the mid ’60s Blue Note tradition, with just a few avant-garde outbursts to keep things exciting.