Rashied Ali passed away Wednesday, August 12 at age 74.

As a guy that can’t keep a beat to save his life it’s a wonder why I was always so attracted to Ali’s music. Perhaps because it was something I could just enjoy freely without ever being tempted to replicate, emulate or dissect it. I own a ton of Jazz records but can’t tell you anything about meter, tempo, half-notes, etc, etc.

I don’t speak the language of Jazz. But I know what I like and what is transcendent for me. Ali was. And his records still are.

MP3: Rashied Ali-Blood On The Cross

(From 1974’s Moon Flight LP)