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Rag, Bush and All is an album by Henry Threadgill released on the RCA Novus label in 1989. The album and features four of Threadgill’s compositions performed by Threadgill’s Sextett with Bill Lowe, Ted Daniel, Fred Hopkins, Diedre Murray, Newman Baker and Reggie Nicholson.

“This CD from altoist Henry Threadgill is a perfect mixture of improvisation and composition, hanging onto devices of the past while creating new music. Some of the ensembles (which match Threadgill with trumpeter Ted Daniels, bass trombonist Bill Lowe, cellist Diedre Murray, bassist Fred Hopkins, and both Newman Baker and Reggie Nicholson on drums) recall Ornette Coleman’s Free Jazz with the cello-bass interplay inspired by the one-time team of Scott LaFaro and Charlie Haden. The organized horn parts and the riffs behind the lead voices are quite original and sometimes more interesting than the solos themselves. Of the four songs, “Off the Rag” at first dispenses with the melody quickly but the theme constantly pops up in surprising places. “The Devil” is highlighted by Murray’s double-time cello runs behind Threadgill’s alto while “Gift” contrasts colorful percussion with solemn long tones from the ensemble. “Sweet Holy Rag” has several sections including a pretty classical-like melody, a danceable rumba, a drum feature, and a fairly violent trumpet solo. However, the more one describes this music, the more seems to be left out. Highly recommended to open-eared listeners.” – Scott Yanow/AllMusic.

Track listing:
All compositions by Henry Threadgill

“Off the Rag” – 12:40
“The Devil is on the Loose and Dancin’ with a Monkey” – 6:44
“Gift” – 5:44
“Sweet Holy Rag” – 13:20
Recorded at Clinton Recording Studios, New York City in December 1988

Personnel:
Henry Threadgill – alto saxophone, bass flute
Ted Daniel – trumpet, flugelhorn
Bill Lowe – bass trombone
Diedre Murray – cello
Fred Hopkins – bass
Reggie Nicholson – percussion
Newman Baker – percussion

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Released: 1989
Recorded: December 1988
Length: 38:28
Label: RCA Novus
Producer: David Stone