Pullen, Don: New Beginnings (Blue Note Classics) LP

The brilliant pianist Don Pullen was a striking and versatile player whose music spanned a wide variety of styles. Pullen first came to prominence as a member of Charles Mingus’ group in the early 1970s, and later formed a co-led quartet with saxophonist George Adams that was signed to Blue Note Records in 1986. Following two excellent Pullen/Adams Quartet albums - Breakthrough and Song Everlasting - Pullen branched out on his own in the trio format with his 1988 recording New Beginnings featuring bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Tony Williams. This impressive 6-song set of original compositions found Pullen getting down to the core of his distinctive sound with the wild avant-garde flourishes of pieces like “Reap the Whirlwind” juxtaposed against winsome groove and swing-rooted pieces like “Jana’s Delight” and the title track.