SOUNDTRACK: RAVI COLTRANE QUARTET-Tiny Desk Concert #631 (June 26, 2017).
Ravi Coltrane is the son of John Coltrane–giant shoes to fill. Indeed there’s quite a legacy in this band:
Yes, Ravi Coltrane is the son of the John Coltrane, one of the most famous and important jazz saxophonists and composers of all time. He’s also the son of multi-instrumentalist, composer and spiritual leader Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda. (In fact, all members of the band here are performing artists in their own right and come from artistically rich families; drummer E.J. Strickland is the brother of saxophonist Marcus Strickland; Adam Rogers parents performed on Broadway and Yunior Terry is Yosvany Terri’s brother, both heirs to Cuban music royalty.)
I don’t know anything else about Ravi Coltrane, so I’m going to let the blurb do the detailing:
The first song in the set, “Cobbs Hill,” was written by Coltrane’s good friend and colleague Ralph Alessi. Beginning with Yunior Terry’s funky and deliberate bass line, further enhanced by intentional drum rolls the 2/4 time signature, two beats per measure, captures a march-like proclamation. [Ravi plays the soprano sax on this one. There’s a lengthy guitar solo in the middle of the song in which Ravi just relaxes, but it is primarily Ravi’s show].
The second song is Coltrane’s own composition, “Three For Thee”, a fan favorite from the 1998 Moving Pictures album; the original recording included Ralph Alessi on trumpet. Only 32 years old when that record was released, it could be taken as a sign of things to come: Ravi Coltrane, an old soul in a young body, mature and capable of creating work so robust and important. Almost 20 years later, hearing that music again here, even better, is affirming and a testament to Coltrane’s ever-evolving artistic journey. And E.J. Strickland’s opening drum intro couldn’t be more spunky; he teases the audience into the groove with effortless, intentional punctuations. [Ravi is on tenor sax for this song. There’s another lengthy guitar solo in the middle].
After this song, he thanks everyone and then points out that there is a two drink minimum.
Sadly there is no blurb for “Phrygia,” so it’s up to me. I really like the main riff of this song. And the middle has a groovy bass solo, which could be longer, frankly. I like that the guitar plays some really delicate notes and phrases to accompany the bass solo. After some good wailing, I like that they return to the main theme and then bring things down with some thumping bass and gentle guitars
[READ: August 20, 2016] “Four in Prose”
Back in 2009 Williams had 7 brief stories published in Harper’s. My take away was: I would have not finished this work, except the whole thing was only two pages long.
These four pieces are also only 2 pages long.
The first is called “The Perverted Message” (more…)
I Just Read About That... 