24 Facts About Don Pullen

Don Gabriel Pullen was an American jazz pianist and organist.

Don Pullen composed pieces ranging from blues to bebop and modern jazz.

Don Pullen played with the choir in his local church and was heavily influenced by his cousin, Clyde "Fats" Wright, who was a professional jazz pianist.

Don Pullen took some lessons in classical piano and knew little of jazz.

Don Pullen set out to make a career in music, desirous of playing like Ornette Coleman and Eric Dolphy.

Don Pullen then headed for New York, where he was introduced to avant-garde saxophonist Giuseppi Logan, who invited Pullen to play piano on his two albums, Giuseppi Logan and More, both exercises in structured free playing.

In 1972, Don Pullen briefly appeared with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

Don Pullen often polarized critics and suffered from two undeserved allegations: the first that he was purely a free jazz player and thus unemployable in any other context; the second that he had been heavily influenced by Cecil Taylor or was a clone of Taylor, to whose playing Don Pullen's own bore a superficial resemblance.

Don Pullen strenuously denied that he had any link with Taylor, stating that his own style had been developed in isolation before he ever heard of Taylor.

Don Pullen appeared on no more commercial recordings until 1971 and 1972, when he played organ on three recordings by altoist Charles Williams, one being issued under the title of a Don Pullen composition, "Trees And Grass And Things".

However, musical disagreements with Mingus caused Don Pullen to leave the group in 1975.

Don Pullen had always played piano with bass and drums behind him, feeling more comfortable this way, but in early 1975 he was persuaded to play a solo concert in Toronto.

Don Pullen became part of the regular seasonal tours of American musicians to Europe, playing in the avant-garde or free mode.

In 1977, Don Pullen was signed by a major American record company, Atlantic Records.

Don Pullen recorded with Hamiet Bluiett; Roy Brooks, the drummer who introduced him to Mingus; Jane Bunnett; Kip Hanrahan; Beaver Harris; Marcello Melis; and David Murray.

Don Pullen followed this in 1990 with another trio album, Random Thoughts, in somewhat lighter mood, this time with James Genus and Lewis Nash.

In late 1990 Don Pullen added a new element to his playing and his music with the formation of his African Brazilian Connection.

Don Pullen achieved more popular and commercial success with this group than with any other.

Don Pullen toured and recorded with the group Roots from its inception.

Don Pullen's final project was a work combining the sounds of his African Brazilian Connection with a choir and drums of Native Americans.

Don Pullen continued to put great physical effort into completing the composition.

Jackson, with whom Don Pullen discussed the music from his hospital bed shortly before his death.

Don Pullen composed many pieces, which often were portraits or memories of people he knew.

Jackson recorded an album, Long Goodbye: A Tribute to Don Pullen, dedicated to Pullen and featuring his compositions.