By Robin James
Contributing Writer
If you want to go hear some good music, Thursday night, Sept 19 is the night to do it.
Saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Ravi Coltrane returns to the Dakota to perform with his quartet. More than likely, the music he will draw from will be from his excellent and most recent album, Spirit Fiction from the Blue Note label.
His group recently played at the Detroit Jazz Festival and received raved reviews.
How do you describe the sound of unpredictability? It’s not easy to do, but that’s what I think of when I think about Coltrane’s playing — whether that be live or on a studio recording.
It’s that element of the unpredictable that colors the Coltrane experience. During his live performances anything can happen, given his tone, control, and wide range of creative ideas. It’s his unique approach and unconventional leadership style that makes him standout from his peers. Just look at his choice of sidemen and the variety of his side projects.
He is one of today’s top saxophonists. His music has been described as the way jazz sounds now. For me, Coltrane’s sound is a potent mixture of yesterday’s jazz (think saxophonist Joe Henderson) combined with a new millennium artistry, which defies categorization.
Coltrane’s artistic output may not be that expansive, yet it’s the quality and not the quantity that makes the greatest impact.
Expect this performance at the Dakota to reflect his elegant simplicity coupled with his imaginative playing that makes him one of the most exciting artists to watch on the scene now.
I do hope that Coltrane will play the fabulous tune, “Who Wants Ice Cream,”
from Spirit Fiction. Either way, go, be inspired, and support live music.
And oh yeah, by the way, his father is the late great saxophonist John Coltrane.
For more information and tickets, visit, www.dakotacooks.com and www.ravicoltrane.com.
Robin James welcomes reader responses to jamesonjazz@spokesman-recorder.com.
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