ALICE COLTRANE- A Monastic Trio
Impulse Records IMPL 8031 Recorded January 29th & June 6th 1968
Alice Coltrane (pno, harp) Pharaoh Sanders (bs clt) Jimmy Garrison (bs) Rashed Ali (drs) Ben Riley (drs)
Side 1, Ohnedaruth 7m 34sec, Gospel Trane 6m 33s, I Want to See You 6m 31s
Side 2, Lovely Sky Boat 6m 40s, Oceanic Beloved 4m 11s, Atmic Peace 5m 43s
Alice Coltrane (nee: McCloud) from Detroit was the fifth of six children and became the second wife of John Coltrane (after Naima). They married in 1965, only two years before the great mans death in 67 aged forty. Alice herself passed away in 2007, she was 69. Both Alice and John were both dedicated spiritualists. It is surprising to some that Alice made only two less albums under her own name than her more famous husband. She was one of only a handful of serious harpists in the whole history of jazz. This album, of her own compositions was recorded as a tribute to John a year after his death. Alice plays piano at the first recording session alongside Jimmy Garrison on bass who had extensive experience with both of the Coltrane's music, and Pharaoh Sanders, whose performances alongside them both, particularly at the 1966 Village Vanguard recordings were legendary. The drummer on this session only was Ben Riley, best known for his outstanding contributions to Thelonious Monk's groups. There was only one track laid down that January day, Ohnedaruth, the Hindu translation of compassion and the longest cut on the disc. There is something majestic about the opening piano statement which sets the tone for the rest of the album. There is more light than darkness here, although when Pharoah Sandars joins the fray his bass clarinet cries out in a way that only Eric Dolphy could possibly have matched. The theme of the piece was something John was working on alongside his wife during his last months so this adds to the obvious poignancy of the playing here.
The second session of music, just over four months later sees Rashid Ali take over the drum chair and features Alice at the piano for the first two numbers before switching to harp. Gospel Trane lives up to its name with a very church like introduction before the resolute and sometimes abstract piano rides over a strong bass figure and poly-rhythmic drumming from Rashed Ali. The final track of side 1, I Want To See You is right from the heart with a searching quality and plenty of time and space from the piano, once again there are magnificent firm bass lines from Jimmy Garrison who was once a cornerstone of the Coltrane quartet. The lead instrument changes but the mood does not as Alice switches to harp for the whole of side two. There are cascades of notes falling from the instrument to open Lovely Sky Boat a piece that although holding a strong theme is gentle and peaceful in nature also highlighting a more restrained output from the drums. Oceanic Beloved continues in a similar vein with reflective playing from Alice that portrays a sense of great loss before moving into a more abstract free form territory that her husband would certainly approved of. The album concludes with Atmic Peace (and not "Atomic Peace") as shown on some discographies. This has a serene and soothing soundscape with all members at the top of their game producing together a perfect ending to a very fine tribute album that is challenging in parts, but overall achieves its full purpose.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
Impulse Records IMPL 8031 Recorded January 29th & June 6th 1968
Alice Coltrane (pno, harp) Pharaoh Sanders (bs clt) Jimmy Garrison (bs) Rashed Ali (drs) Ben Riley (drs)
Side 1, Ohnedaruth 7m 34sec, Gospel Trane 6m 33s, I Want to See You 6m 31s
Side 2, Lovely Sky Boat 6m 40s, Oceanic Beloved 4m 11s, Atmic Peace 5m 43s
Alice Coltrane (nee: McCloud) from Detroit was the fifth of six children and became the second wife of John Coltrane (after Naima). They married in 1965, only two years before the great mans death in 67 aged forty. Alice herself passed away in 2007, she was 69. Both Alice and John were both dedicated spiritualists. It is surprising to some that Alice made only two less albums under her own name than her more famous husband. She was one of only a handful of serious harpists in the whole history of jazz. This album, of her own compositions was recorded as a tribute to John a year after his death. Alice plays piano at the first recording session alongside Jimmy Garrison on bass who had extensive experience with both of the Coltrane's music, and Pharaoh Sanders, whose performances alongside them both, particularly at the 1966 Village Vanguard recordings were legendary. The drummer on this session only was Ben Riley, best known for his outstanding contributions to Thelonious Monk's groups. There was only one track laid down that January day, Ohnedaruth, the Hindu translation of compassion and the longest cut on the disc. There is something majestic about the opening piano statement which sets the tone for the rest of the album. There is more light than darkness here, although when Pharoah Sandars joins the fray his bass clarinet cries out in a way that only Eric Dolphy could possibly have matched. The theme of the piece was something John was working on alongside his wife during his last months so this adds to the obvious poignancy of the playing here.
The second session of music, just over four months later sees Rashid Ali take over the drum chair and features Alice at the piano for the first two numbers before switching to harp. Gospel Trane lives up to its name with a very church like introduction before the resolute and sometimes abstract piano rides over a strong bass figure and poly-rhythmic drumming from Rashed Ali. The final track of side 1, I Want To See You is right from the heart with a searching quality and plenty of time and space from the piano, once again there are magnificent firm bass lines from Jimmy Garrison who was once a cornerstone of the Coltrane quartet. The lead instrument changes but the mood does not as Alice switches to harp for the whole of side two. There are cascades of notes falling from the instrument to open Lovely Sky Boat a piece that although holding a strong theme is gentle and peaceful in nature also highlighting a more restrained output from the drums. Oceanic Beloved continues in a similar vein with reflective playing from Alice that portrays a sense of great loss before moving into a more abstract free form territory that her husband would certainly approved of. The album concludes with Atmic Peace (and not "Atomic Peace") as shown on some discographies. This has a serene and soothing soundscape with all members at the top of their game producing together a perfect ending to a very fine tribute album that is challenging in parts, but overall achieves its full purpose.
Reviewed by Jim Burlong
