Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Music review: Transcendent tribute to John Coltrane classic 'A Love Supreme'

Sydney saxophonist Dale Barlow. Photo: Mark Raketic
Reviewed by Jessica Nicholas
January 26, 2015 - 11:42AM
n December 1964, John Coltrane and his quartet went into Rudy Van Gelder's studio in New Jersey to record an album. By the end of the day, they had 33 minutes of music that would become one of the most iconic recordings in jazz history: A Love Supreme.

So how do contemporary musicians pay tribute to this sacred artefact 50 years on? For Sydney saxophonist Dale Barlow and his colleagues, attempting to recreate the album on stage would be contrary to the spirit of jazz, which – as he explained during Saturday's show – must evolve in order to "fulfil our creative needs".

As bassist Philip Rex opened Part 1 (Acknowledgement) with a pungent solo, he only hinted at the loping, four-note motif that underpins the original version. Barlow, too, allowed flashes of it in his fiery improvisations, as drummer Danny Fischer set up Latin-tinged cross rhythms and pianist Barney McAll radiated intensity with stabbing, percussive chords. 


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/music-review-transcendent-tribute-to-john-coltrane-classic-a-love-supreme-20150126-12y4bm.html#ixzz3Q19LzE1s

0 Comments: