LARRY YOUNG Lawrence Of Newark (Perception/Castle) Rating: NNNN
In between jamming with Jack Bruce and Tony Williams in Lifetime and launching his own Fuel soul-jazz project, the late Hammond great cut this incredible avant-funk session in 72, assisted by a young James Blood Ulmer and a tough-slapping rhythm section. If you can imagine Jimmy Smith taking an interstellar trip with the Sun Ra Arkestra you might get close to the brain-scattering madness Young and company were up to on exploratory quests like Khalid Of Space — Part Two. When Young starts cranking over the ragged rumble of the massive percussion posse, his snappy Blue Note sets seem a million light years away. A jaw-dropper.
