You Are Free to Choose. The title of the first track on Junius Paul’s first album says a lot. No coincidence either that the word free is in the middle. Ism certainly contains a healthy serving of free jazz, a term which already has fairly unclear boundaries, all while embracing other influences, sounds and musics. Very in line with the philosophy of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians) and its Art Ensemble of Chicago, legendary institutions of the city, of which Junius Paul is a worthy member…
Discovered with the drummer Makaya McCraven, with whom he duets all the time, he began the recording of this solo album in the summer of 2016. He then did nine sessions in different Chicago locations, bringing together around twelve musician friends. These nine sessions were then followed by hours in post-production with Makaya McCraven, focussed on nearly half the album. While You Are Free to Choose speeds up and down the harmonic ladder at 100mph, the shorter Georgia delivers an openly funky work of pure soul. This contrast clearly shows how Junius Paul has absorbed Bitches Brew by Miles Davis as much as Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi as well as albums from the P-Funk (Funkadelic/Parliament) galaxy, Are You Experienced? by Jimi Hendrix and a hundred other things. An invigorating listen. © Marc Zisman/Qobuz