Can Ornette Coleman be celebrated by a trumpet player? Why the Cherry not? Chris Pasin teams his trumpet with alto saxist Adam Siegal, which makes sense, and then also brings in piano/vibes by Karl Berger, voice from Ingrid Sertso and rhythm from drummer Harvey Sorgen and bassist Michael Bisio to revisit the Coleman songbook and vision.
The album is bookended by a pair of Pasin’s own works that capture the Coleman spirit; a loose bopper “OCDC” and laconic “PTU” easily fit into the environs. A Latin lilted “Jayne” includes a nice sync with Sorgen and Bisio” while Pasin’s muted horn is gorgeous on the ballad “Jut For You.” The team gets dramatic on “Ghosts” and has fun with “Tomorrow is the Question.” Sertso’s vocals to her lyrics on”Lonely Woman” and wordless harmonies for the bopping “When Will the Blues Leave” are rich additions, with Berger’s vibes adding a rich texture to the moods. Impressive tribute to the free jazz visionary.