By Greg Bryant, WBGO NEA Jazz Master Dave Liebman’s new release, Selflessness, is a passionate reimagining of the John Coltrane songbook. Liebman and his Expansions ensemble have cracked the code to a concept seldom expressed in previous renderings of Coltrane’s most burning mid-to-late-period compositions. Read more here.
Ally J Steel, Jazz Revelations Pursuance: The Coltranes is the latest project from the charismatic New York-based saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin. For the record, Lakecia surrounded herself with a collection of jazz masters and jazz nobility, such as Ron Carter, Gary Bartz and Dee Bridgewater (to name a few), and united them under the mystical music … Read More
Charles Waring, Record Collector This month’s outstanding new album is by New York saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, who was mentored by Gary Bartz and has performed with Gregory Porter and Alicia Keys. Pursuance: The Coltranes (★★★★☆ Ropeadope) is an epic opus inspired by John and Alice Coltrane’s music and finds Benjamin surrounded by a vast supporting … Read More
Arnaldo Desouteiro, Jazz Station Keyboards: 9. Chris McCarthy (“Sonder” –RPR) Drums: 11. Anders Vestergard (“Inside Turnabout” – Drumvoice Records) 12. Victor Lewis (“Akua’s Dance” w/ Akua Dixon – Akua’s Music) 13. Ralph Peterson (“Common Ground” w/ B.J. Jansen – Ronin Jazz) Vibes/ Marimba: 4. Nikara Warren (“Mae Sun Vol.1: Inter-Be” – Calmit Productions) Miscellaneous: 1. … Read More
Robbie Gerson, Audiophile Audition There are many reasons for the enduring influences of John Coltrane. His short career (mostly 1955-1967) included being part of the first Miles Davis Quintet. His stint as a sideman was brief, mostly with Davis, Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie. But as a band leader Trane soared with highly elaborate compositions and … Read More
Will Layman, Pop Matters 2017 marks a half-century since we lost the brilliant musician John Coltrane. And while the notion of another Coltrane tribute recording strikes me as excess, the truth is that there will—and should—be Coltrane tributes forever. His legacy was a big (and can withstand as many reinterpretations) as any in American music. But more … Read More
Raul da Gama, Jazz da Gama Whether it’s his repertoire from the mid-1950s or the “sheets of sound” music of the late 1950s onwards or the “spiritual explorations” of 1962 until his passing, with John Coltrane it’s always prudent to expect the unexpected. Compassion-The Music of John Coltranedoesn’t disappoint, as Dave Liebman and Joe Lovano with … Read More
Mark Sullivan, All About Jazz In 2007 BBC Radio commissioned saxophonist Dave Liebmanto record an all-Coltrane program to mark the 40th anniversary of legendary saxophonist/composer John Coltrane‘s passing. Asked to bring in Saxophone Summit—the band Liebman co-led with fellow saxophonists Joe Lovano and Ravi Coltrane—Liebman managed to assemble regular members Lovano, pianist Phil Markowitz, and drummer Billy Hart, along with bassist Ron McClure as … Read More
