Verve/Universal Musical Enterprises released a new 180-gram vinyl of John Coltrane’s daring free jazz album!
John Coltrane – Ascension – Impulse! Records A-95 (1966)/Verve/Universal Music Enterprises 0199957117982 Verve Vault 180-gram stereo double vinyl, 79:19 *****:
(John Coltrane – tenor saxophone; Freddie Hubbard – trumpet; Dewey Johnson – trumpet; Marion Brown – alto saxophone; John Tchicai – alto saxophone; Pharoah Sanders – tenor saxophone; Archie Shepp – tenor saxophone; McCoy Tyner – piano; Art Davis – double bass; Jimmy Garrison – double bass; Elvin Jones – drums)
John Coltrane was a defining presence in jazz. After starting his career in bebop, he helped to create a new movement, modal jazz. Coltrane played with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, and became a successful band leader, releasing groundbreaking albums like Blue Train, Giant Steps and My Favorite Things for Prestige, Blue Note and Atlantic. In the 60’s he moved to Impulse! Records and was influenced by free-jazz/avant-garde artists like Pharaoh Sanders, Sun Ra, Ornette Coleman and Albert Ayler. At this time, the saxophonist had a spiritual awakening that defined his music. With Impulse! Records, he made history with the recording of A Love Supreme (1965), an avant-garde suite. He formed his own “classic quartet” that included McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones. Eventually, Coltrane would expand his studio lineup to include additional brass, saxophones and a second bassist. In the final years of his life, he recorded prolifically, changing the face of modern jazz.
Verve/Universal Music Enterprises has released a 180-gram vinyl of the 1966 album, Ascension. In addition to his quartet, he is joined by Archie Shepp, Sanders, Dewey Thompson, Marion Brown and John Tchicai. These sessions created free-jazz big band with less structure. It was an unrehearsed complex 40-minute continuous piece, recorded twice (2 editions) without breaks. The opening LP (“Ascension Edition 1”) begins with a fierce large ensemble improvisation featurimng horns and brass, backed by the rhythm section. Coltrane is first to solo with explosive, searing tonal-stretching. Under the furious execution is Jones’ dynamic tempo-keeping and Tyner’s eloquent groove-filled chords.After a “wall” of sound interlude, Dewey Thompson delivers a crisp unrestrained trumpet run fueled by Jones’ intense rhythm. Between solos, there is the expansive atonal notation from the brass and horns. Sanders pushes the boundaries even further on his relentless solo. The momentum never subsides as each ensuing soloist glides into “Part 2”.(in order: Hubbard/solid high-register, Tchicai/ melodic, Shepp and Brown) weave their individual mastery into the jam. This raw incendiary statement is temporarily offset by more angular hard bop chord runs by Tyner and a rare duet by Garrison (bowed) and Jones followed. The conclusion is a brilliant drum solo by Jones that sets up the final ensemble burst.
A second session (“Edition 2) which actually is the first take and Coltrane’s preferred one), has all of the soloists (except for Jones) executing their intense free jazz explorations with minor changes in the order. Coltrane’s punctuated riffs with the rhythm section as an anchor are emotionally raw and complicated. The music displays all of the unrestrained free-jazz motifs, but with more bluesy shading. In particular, Tyner’s piano solo is sprightly and has impeccable phrasing and timing.
Ascension is a pivotable moment in jazz lore. An icon at the apex of his career explores a newer unconventional aural landscape with complete abandon. The blues-based atonal jams are not readily accessible. There are collective unstructured runs with highly improvised solos from the saxophones and trumpets that are piercing and explosive. The re-mastered sound mix (Ryan K. Smith/Sterling Sound) is cut from the original Rudy Van Gelder analog tapes. All of the detail and separation are intact.
Highest recommendation!
—Robbie Gerson
John Coltrane – Ascension
TrackList:
LP 1: Ascension (Edition 1)
Side A: Ascension (Part 1)
Side B: Ascension (Part 2)
LP 2: Ascension (Edition 2
Side C: Ascension (Part 1)
Side D: Ascension (Part 2)
