riverrat Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 I recently heard a story on Alice Coltrane on NPR, put together in remembrance after she passed away recently. They played some clips of her music- I've never listened to anything by her, but I liked what little I heard on the NPR piece. I had always assumed that since the spacey titles of many of her releases were similar to those of husband John's later stuff, that the music would be similar as well. I am NOT a big fan of late period John Coltrane. I'm not qualified to judge the technical merit, which I've read is pretty incredible, but I find most of his completely free, wild stuff almost unlistenable. So I didn't bother to check out any of Alice's stuff. In addition to jazz, I listen to a lot of "world" music- I mostly prefer the more organic, less produced and poppy stuff. I also tend to like stuff that sounds like a world music/jazz hybrid. Sooo, I guess I need to get to know Alice's work! I ordered the Japanese version of "Journey in Satchidananda" from Amazon for a start. Where should I go from there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 (edited) Ptah the El Daoud is really good. It features both Joe Henderson and Pharoah Sanders in the front line, and is much more "inside" than Coltrane's late work (though not without "outside" moments). I haven't really "gotten" Journey in Satchidananda (it's nice and all), but apparently I'm a minority on that one. Since you like world music, you might like this one more than I do. I haven't heard any of her other work as a leader. Guy Edited January 18, 2007 by Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Both of these will probably sound great to you. Other recommendations might be further out than you want to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest the mommy Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 (edited) i like "huntington ashram monastery" the best and it is even more "in" than "ptah the dude" is. but not boring or straight. it's a trio w. ron carter and rashied ali. Edited January 18, 2007 by the mommy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverrat Posted January 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 Thanks I'll look for these. I like to think I'm not hopelessly conventional and unadventurous- I do like some of Jackie Mac's semi-free stuff, but some of the structureless screeching of full-blown free jazz I guess I just do not get... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 I think her harp playing really adds something special to this already fine date... Extensions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rostasi Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 (edited) Her playing on Turiya and Ramakrishna from Ptah the El Daoud is so achingly beautiful that it'll bring tears to your eyes. Edited January 18, 2007 by rostasi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 I think her harp playing really adds something special to this already fine date... Extensions Yes! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 (edited) I just absolutely love the albums with strings. I'd recommend Lord of Lords, or World Galaxy. Edited January 19, 2007 by jazzbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ep1str0phy Posted January 18, 2007 Report Share Posted January 18, 2007 With you on the string albums. Universal Consciousness (featuring Ornette arrangements) is another one along the lines of World Galaxy--stylistically diverse, but not disunified. There are some dire duets with Rashied Ali (showcasing just how well Alice had integrated her husband's harmonic sensibility into her lines--quite a nice parallel to Interstellar Space), as well as some powerful ensemble spots (Leroy Jenkins is in the mix, and his contributions--confident and warm--are key). Another note on World Galaxy, though--Frank Lowe is tough on that one (sounds like some wacky editing, but he just erupts in spots at full wail). Also of note is the backbeat rendition of A Love Supreme, which is surely one of the more original renditions in my memory. Alice had the juice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.:.impossible Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 Yeah, I didn't think the strings would be what riverrat was looking for at all. While we're talking about World Galaxy, I hear tape manipulation being used in the arrangements. Am I crazy? I should listen to this album this week. I remember there being tape manipulation that made the string arrangements sound even more wild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ep1str0phy Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 I think you're right, .:.. There's at least some pretty obvious post-production going on, which at least acts in service of the music. I'll have to listen again for specific effects (anything you have in mind?). Also--yeah, reading riverrat's earlier post, you're right. I'll second the recommendations for A Monastic Trio, which is very free-groovy in the best possible way. Alice gets some meaty hits in there like I've heard nowhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverrat Posted January 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 Yeah, I didn't think the strings would be what riverrat was looking for at all. You're right- I don't think a session with strings is where I want to start, but I always enjoy seeing where a threads goes. Who cares what the original point was! And who knows, maybe Alice will expand my mind to the point where a string session will work for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felser Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 I think her harp playing really adds something special to this already fine date... Extensions Yes! Guy Agreed. Made my list of 10 best Blue Notes ever, and she was vital to it's greatness. She also adds much to Joe Henderson - The Elements, and of the sessions she led I recommend 'A Monastic Trio', "Ptah The El Dauoud', 'Journey in Satchidananda', and to a lesser extent 'Transfiguration'. 'Huntington Ashran Monastery' is nice, but will set you back $30 or more for the CD, and you will get the idea from the other sets noted here. I don't particularly like her orchestrated sets, much prefer her smaller group works. In addition to her vision and composing, she was an excellent PLAYER on both piano and harp. I haven't heard 'Translinear Light' yet, it also sounds like a good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Weil Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 (edited) Yeah, I didn't think the strings would be what riverrat was looking for at all. You're right- I don't think a session with strings is where I want to start, but I always enjoy seeing where a threads goes. Who cares what the original point was! And who knows, maybe Alice will expand my mind to the point where a string session will work for me... I only know Lord of Lords, but that's not at all a standard "Jazz with strings" session. I mean it's more like orchestral classical music, maybe late 19th C, in vibe and effect. It is supposed to evoke God (I guess) which explains its scale and grandiosity. "Baroque" is the word that springs to mind. I heard that when I first came into Jazz, along with Journey in Satchidananda - and found it works, though not for everyone, I'm sure. I don't think any of AC's work should frighten you. It's not really out. Ptah is the recommended classic, strongish, structured. JiS is a lovely session, glowing harp work integrated into modestly avant setting with strong compositions. Not just a pianist. Simon Weil [if anyone's interested, the scale of Lord of Lords seems to fit with the awesome thing in John C's music and, ultimately, his conception of "OM". Kind of a connection between husband and wife.] Edited January 19, 2007 by Simon Weil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted January 19, 2007 Report Share Posted January 19, 2007 Like with the Tyner, which I love, she adds something special to Joe Henderson's The Elements (OJC/Milestone): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverrat Posted January 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 I think her harp playing really adds something special to this already fine date... Extensions I'm in remission on CD buying, but when I pick one up these days I tend to try and find the Japanese version. So far, I have not found a Japanese version of this CD. I'm sure they have to exist. Any opinons concerning the best sounding version of this session? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyo Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 I'm in remission on CD buying, but when I pick one up these days I tend to try and find the Japanese version. So far, I have not found a Japanese version of this CD. I'm sure they have to exist. Any opinons concerning the best sounding version of this session? You might want to wait until the McCoy Tyner Mosaic Select is released in the coming week(s?) as this album will be included. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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