Rashied Ali passed away today.

I remember driving through New Jersey on a high school digging expedition to Princeton Record Exchange (back when it was a mecca) and hearing an interview with Rashied Ali on the radio. Soft spoken, but confident, Ali was the link between John Coltrane and Albert Ayler, probably my two most beloved jazz icons. His drums were the terrestrial gateway into the mindfuck of Interstellar Space. I'd say at least he's free now, but Rashied Ali was born free. He played free and he always will be free to anyone with open ears.