Here we find Wadado Leo Smith again in excellent company, with Ed Blackwell no less, the fabulous free jazz drummer who laid the foundations for his instrument's new role with the Ornette Coleman bands and Old & New Dreams. Like with Don Cherry on the historic "Mu", he is possibly the best partner for this kind of endeavor and also for Smith's concept of music : it is freedom while being based in African rhythms, blues and jazz. Blackwell is incredibly creative and expressive, adding little touches, shifting meters, reorganising the beats constantly, actively shaping the overall sound and melody. Just listen closely to the album's title track if you want to be convinced. --Free Jazz BlogFrom the first, lonely wails notes from Wadada Leo Smith's trumpet on the propulsive "Uprising," it becomes crystal clear that this is no ordinary session. Smith and classic- period Ornette Coleman drummer Ed Blackwell had a longstanding friendship, and when the two lived near each other in Connecticut, they joined forces for a single performance at Brandeis University near Boston in October, 1986… The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer is a performance that reinforces the legend of both of these avant-garde giants. --Something Else"The Blue Mountain's Sun Drummer is a set full of brash, in-your-face spontaneity, which is a meeting of expectations when the musicians at hand are trumpeter/multi-instrumentalist Wadada Leo Smith and the late drummer, Ed Blackwell. This earlier career set is a superb addition to Smith's duo discography." --Dan McClenaghan, allaboutjazz.com