Don Pullen (1985)

The music of the church is as much a part of the DNA of jazz as the blues. Many of jazz's greatest names grew up playing or singing in church, or learned religious music as their first songs; even Fats Waller fought against a clergyman father (who disapproved of jazz) to become a professional musician.

Pianist Don Pullen was in the church choir growing up, and was versed in gospel and the blues before he had any real exposure to jazz. As a jazz composer, Pullen composed pieces that I find absolutely beautiful, songs that have a knack of resolving just the right way without ever sounding too trite or pat, compositions that carry within them the transcendence of church music and the sadness of the blues. Don Pullen's music can make you happy and sad at the same time, something I think all great art does.