Bobby Bradford-John Carter Quintet - Comin' On (hat ART/hatOLOGY, 1989)

This post is by Scott and Dan

Bobby Bradford (tr); John Carter (cl); Don Preston (p, synth); Richard Davis (b); Andrew Cyrille (d)

Recorded on May 29, 1988

Comin' On is a live performance at Catalina Hollywood. Unlike many "historical" live recordings, this session was captured digitally on site by Peter Pfister of hat ART Records. The Swiss label is known for the clarity of its studio and live recordings, including Jimmy Lyons' Jump Up that we reviewed earlier. 

The quintet is hot and in awesome form. Kicking off with the title piece composed by Bobby Bradford, it's clear that this is a session worthy of the many accolades it has received over the years. Matters cool down with the lovely "Ode to the Flower Maiden," penned by co-leader John Carter and included on his Dauwhe album (also reviewed earlier). That's just the beginning. The next three tunes fill another 50 minutes of intensely imaginative playing, including full exposure for the incredible rhythm team of Richard Davis and Andrew Cyrille. The pieces soar and dive, dip and turn, and showcase the tremendous talent on display. Bradford and Carter are both virtuosi on their respective horns, and they often appear to think as one. Clearly, their long association allowed them to read each other's moves and respond in the moment.

One of the more striking features of the session is the keyboard work of Don Preston, a founding member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. In addition to piano, Preston brings his synthesizer to the gig. To quote Art Lange's booklet notes:

"Don Preston's electric keyboards are the most radical new element, but he enriches the ensemble's textural palette, sustains a mood with orchestral flavor, and, most importantly, never upsets the crucial balance of the pair up front." 

Preston also played a significant role in John Carter's five-album sequence, Roots and Folklore, reviewed elsewhere in this blog. One should not for a moment despair a "rock musician" usurping the bandstand. He fits right in, as the leaders surely knew he would.

There were few more durable bands playing in the late 1980s that got their start more than a dozen years earlier. Two albums on the Revelation label (Secrets (1973) and Seeking (1974)) established high expectations but did not receive the recognition they deserved. Comin' On serves as a reminder of the sublime interaction between Carter and Bradford, who sound perfectly secure with their vision and methods. It's one of the very best albums of the decade.