In more ways than one, saxists Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman and Ravi Coltrane make up three generations of the influence of John Coltrane. Liebman through Elvin Jones, Lovano through tone and Coltrane through genes. Along with the rhythm team of Phil Markowitz/key, Cecil McBee/b and Billy Hart/dr, the three gents take various reeds and continue the legacy of late period ‘Trane. Most of the time, however, the emphasis is on passing the torch from one soloist to another, as on the pair of 10 mnute p I eces “Visitation” and “Balkis” where it feels like the compositions are delivered on the spot. A pair of soprano saxes on the latter make the music a bit intriguing, but the mood is more of a relaxed jam than anything else. Things work much more successfully when the horns meld in glorious unison on “Partition” while the rhythm team serves as gentle drapes. The tones of the saxes tend on the dry side, except for the rich glow from Leibman’s soprano, particularly on “Consequence” and “Point” showing that the eldest can also sound the youngest.
Artists Share
In more ways than one, saxists Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman and Ravi Coltrane make up three generations of the influence of John Coltrane. Liebman through Elvin Jones, Lovano through tone and Coltrane through genes. Along with the rhythm team of Phil Markowitz/key, Cecil McBee/b and Billy Hart/dr, the three gents take various reeds and continue the legacy of late period ‘Trane. Most of the time, however, the emphasis is on passing the torch from one soloist to another, as on the pair of 10 mnute p I eces “Visitation” and “Balkis” where it feels like the compositions are delivered on the spot. A pair of soprano saxes on the latter make the music a bit intriguing, but the mood is more of a relaxed jam than anything else. Things work much more successfully when the horns meld in glorious unison on “Partition” while the rhythm team serves as gentle drapes. The tones of the saxes tend on the dry side, except for the rich glow from Leibman’s soprano, particularly on “Consequence” and “Point” showing that the eldest can also sound the youngest.
Artists Share