Tenor saxophonist
David Murray
and his octet rise to the challenge of performing five classic
John Coltrane
compositions not by playing note-for-note recreations but by allowing
Trane
's searching spirit to dominate the proceedings.
Murray
shines on all tracks, switching between tenor and bass clarinet. The octet featuring pianist
D.D. Jackson
, trombonist
Craig Harris
, trumpeters
Ravi Best
and
Rasul Siddik
, alto saxophonist and flutist
James Spaulding
, bassist
Jaribu Shahid
, and drummer
Mark Johnson
sound like twice the number of musicians throughout this disc. This is especially true on the raucous big band versions of
"Giant Steps"
"Lazy Bird."
However, they can achieve a complete turnaround when playing the ballad
"Naima"
or
"India,"
which becomes an ethereal, haunting mix (complete with tabla) sounding more like electric period
Miles Davis
unplugged than
Coltrane
's arrangement.
's
"The Crossing"
is a bit of a puzzling inclusion, since it is the only non-
composition performed, somewhat defeating the intention of the disc. The proceedings wind down with an engaging 15-minute version of
"A Love Supreme: Part 1: Acknowledgment"
proving
has studied not only the music of
, but like him insists on applying his individuality through his horn. ~ Al Campbell