Bobby Bradford and his CuZns - Freddie Ain't Ready - 180g Vinyl LP

2024

Ultra-Quiet 180g Vinyl LP Pressed at RTI.
Recorded Live-to-Two-Track Analog Tape!
100% Analog Mastering by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.
Produced by Tone Poet Joe Harley & Steve Genewick.

Intervention Records is thrilled to announce its first jazz release, Bobby Bradford and his CuZns' "Freddie Ain't Ready!"

"Freddie Ain't Ready!" is about identity. It is about discovering, developing, and embracing who you are. That is an act that makes us examine if we are indeed who we thought ourselves to be, and where does this leave us? Does a glimpse of the truth set us free?

"Freddie" was recorded live-to-two-track analog at Hollywood's legendary EastWest (formerly Western) Studios by Steve Genewick and Joe Harley. Custom Flux Magnetics head stacks were used, with no editing, limiting, or compression. Just the highest resolution delivery possible of live sound to your home. Mastering and lacquers are cut by Kevin Gray at CoHEARent Audio, and boutique press RTI delivers dead quiet 180G vinyl. No expense was spared, and laborious attention to detail ensured that the listener is transported into the studio and the creative experience.

Bobby Bradford is one of America's Jazz greats and an institution within the greater Los Angeles jazz and improvised music community. He hails from Mississippi and Texas, where he developed both his appreciable skills and unique voice on trumpet and cornet. He moved to Los Angeles in 1953 where he reunited with Ornette Coleman (whom he had previously known in Texas). He subsequently joined Coleman's ensemble until he was drafted into the Air Force and replaced by Don Cherry.

He rejoined Coleman's quartet from 1961 to 1963, before moving back to Los Angeles where he began a long-running and well-documented association with the clarinetist John Carter. In addition, he performed with myriad ensembles and on recording dates with Eric Dolphy, Glenn Horiuchi, George Lewis, Charlie Haden, Ingebrigt Håker-Flaten, Bob Stewart, James Newton, Frode Gjerstad, Vinny Golia, Paal Nilssen-Love, Francis Wong, and David Murray. He also has a long association with his Mo'tet ensemble and CuZns (with William Roper).

His discography is extensive and includes classics such as Ornette Coleman's Science Fiction and Broken Shadows. Additionally, he holds a B.M. from Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, Texas), and was a jazz educator of note at Pomona College (Claremont, California) for 44 years. Bobby is currently 90 years of age and is still performing and smokin' on his cornet.

This recording project was initiated when drummer-percussionist Garth Powell (Zen Widow, AudioQuest) proposed a performance with CuZns (Bobby Bradford and William Roper) on the long-time New Music Sunday's series hosted by Open Gate Theatre in Los Angeles. This was extremely well-received, and a grand time was had by all.

Bobby was so taken with the results that he wanted to do more. Garth approached William Roper with the idea that given the current state of the world, it would perhaps be most effective to do a recording. Will submitted the idea to Bobby, and the group was off to the races. The group thought bringing in a fourth person as a wild card or loose cannon might enhance the project. Los Angeles has no shortage of excellent improvisors, but they decided on Brian Walsh. Brian is solid and crazy. Every free improvisation project needs a little crazy! While this is a totally equalitarian quartet, it is fair to say that CuZns is its foundation.

And the foundation of CuZns is Bobby Bradford. Bobby has influenced each member of this ensemble in some way or another. He is the group's elder and mentor. So, when it came to coming up with a name for the band, Bobby Bradford and His CuZns was a no-brainer.

Like many great bards, (and he is a musical bard), fellow artists are drawn to Bobby. Garth discovered him when he bought a copy of Ornette Coleman's Science Fiction at 14 years of age. Brian encountered him when he entered Pasadena City College in the early 2000s, a forum from which Bobby influenced scores of musicians. William ran into him through roundabout musical connections. So, it was a hint here, a hint there and people nudging them toward each other, thinking that they might be a good match-up. In fact it was at the memorial for the Japanese American pianist Glenn Horiuchi that CuZns was first formed.