Also this issue: Musical Chairs Queens of the Stone Age should have a revolving door on their tour bus. -Sam Adams Strong Man The Weakerthans’ John Samson likes humans. -Chris Parker Zod Records Tour -A.D. Amorosi Phil Markowitz -Nate Chinen Le Tigre -Patrick Rapa

August 29-September 4, 2002

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Jamaaladeen Tacuma's DNA Galleria featuring James ³Blood² Ulmer

Few principles in jazz have remained as willfully esoteric as harmolodic theory, the concept introduced by Ornette Coleman's Prime Time in the 1970s. All these years later, the precepts still cause scattered confusion among music theorists. Thankfully we have Jamaaladeen Tacuma, electric bassist and unfailingly soulful free-funk prophet; and James "Blood" Ulmer, guitarist, blues wailer and harmolodic sage. The former was essentially the backbone of Prime Time, and has authored a handful of stirring recordings since (none more vital than Show Stopper, his 1982 Gramavision debut). At the Newport Jazz Festival a few weeks ago, Tacuma was the fly in Bill Cosby's ointment, issuing the only truly visionary solo of a sprawling set by the Cos' band of all-stars. As for Blood, he's a wildcard: a mess of free jazz, funk, Delta blues and Memphis soul (dig the spine-tingling Memphis Blood on Label M, produced by Vernon Reid). This meeting will be the last (and possibly greatest) salvo of the summer.

Sat., Aug. 31, 9:30 p.m., Tritone, 1508 South St., 215-545-0475.

—Nate Chinen

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