Air “Air Raid”

Air

Air Raid

Whynot (Japan) 1976

PA-7156 (LP) w/ibnsert.

sleeve : VG+(dirts.)

media : EX/EX(some slightly noises.)

This is an album released in 1976 by the Chicago-based AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) group Air, consisting of three players: Henry Threadgill, Fred Hopkins, and Steve McCall, who have collaborated with various free jazz musicians such as David Murray, Don Pullen, and Andrew Cyrille. The recording took place at Basement Studio in New York the same year under the direction of Yu Gagaku, released by the domestic label Whynot. The album features thrilling and tense developments from the very first note in A1, a track with a bluesy and funky rhythm section contrasting with the out-of-key saxophone constructs in the interesting A2. The percussion by McCall in the latter part of B1 is exceptionally cool. These performances showcase the avant-garde and aggressive nature of free-form jazz, which was flourishing at that time. Highly recommended.

A2: Midnight Sun