I recently listened to a podcast with Cindy Blackman Santana and was reminded of this 2012 brilliant homage to Tony Williams’ Lifetime band.
The album is mostly songs from the early Lifetime catalog (1969-1971). In addition to the Lifetime material, there is a group-composed original “Blues for Tillmon” and a traditional Gaelic air “An-T-eilan Muileach.”
The players all have one foot in jazz and another in rock – highly appropriate given the material. There are strong connections between the players and Lifetime: Bruce was in Lifetime, Blackman Santana is a disciple of Tony Williams, Reid is a disciple of Lifetime’s John McLaughlin and Woods is a jazz and rock polymath (the quintessence of Lifetime). That is, the perfect super group of players to honor Tony Williams and Lifetime.
This is not easy listening jazz – it is a mix of jazz-rock fusion, prog-rock, funk, metal and blues. Some songs are loud and noisy (e.g., the first cut “Vuelta Abajo”) and others quiet beauties (“Blues for Tillmon”). If you are a fan of Tony Williams, this is a must listen. If you are open to challenging fusion music, you will be rewarded.
Here is the source material: