Jamaaladeen Tcuma, an electric bassist who was a part of Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time in mid-’70s has been a leader in a genre of music that can be described as “free funk” since then. Tacuma, who was born in Philadelphia and known before he converted Islam as Rudy McDaniel, played with Charles Earland. Prime Time’s distinctive sound was created by his ability to mix free jazz and funky rhythms, even though he was only 19 years old when he joined Coleman. His solo career was extensive. He has played with many advanced musicians, including James Ulmer, Olu Dara and Julius Hemphill. He formed the power trio Free Form Funky Freqs in 2007 with guitarist Vernon Reid and drummer Grant Calvin Weston. The debut album Urban Mythology Volume One, which was recorded by the band, was released on February 8, 2008.
