Praised for his music s elusive beauty (DownBeat), and for his style informed by tradition but not encumberedby it (Philadelphia City Paper), saxophonist and composer Ravi Coltrane takes a bold step in his creative journey with Spirit Fiction, his Blue Note Records debut . The 11-track album features two different band lineups, each with a unique expressive urgency. Several tracks feature Coltrane s long-term quartet with pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist Drew Gress and drummer E.J. Strickland. Coltrane also enlisted a quintet featuring trumpeter Ralph Alessi, pianist Geri Allen, bassist James Genus and drummer Eric Harland the personnel featured on his sophomore release From the Round Box. According to Coltrane, The title, Spirit Fiction is an abstract turn of phrase that came out of a stream of consciousness. The phrase seemed to mesh with the layered, superimposed nature of the title track. It also felt like a gentle indicator of the science involved in recording that track. In some ways, it ultimately refers to the open ended idea of simply embracing imagination. Coltrane s label mate and fellow saxophonist Joe Lovano served as co-producer of the album along with Coltrane. Lovano also plays alongside Coltrane and Allen on Paul Motian s Fantasm and joins the quintet for an explosive version of Ornette Coleman s Check Out Time. Spirit Fiction also includes six original compositions by Coltrane and three by Alessi.

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Ravi Coltrane's Savoy Jazz debut captures the artist confronting change and transition. In turn lyrical and probing, this music is the most profound statement yet from one of jazz's most fascinating contemporary stars.

Being the legacy of perhaps the most exalted musical martyr of the 20th century carries certain expectations. After all, John Coltrane's are some pretty big shoes to fill. His son, Ravi Coltrane, has his father's facial profile, but, so far, all similarities end there. "Social Drones," the Ralph Alessi composition that begins this quintet album, is closer to Doc Severinsen than the senior Coltrane--a plodding number that's all arid highs, no lows. "The Chartreuse Mean" is a literal toot-around that features Coltrane junior blowing arpeggios in sequence, perhaps in an effort to emulate his dad's celestial textures on such albums as Meditations. Similarly, "Word Order" broaches more of the melodic turf of the elder Coltrane's Crescent period, complete with suitably representative McCoy Tyner-esque accompaniment by Geri Allen. However, Coltrane senior isn't the only influence on his son. Latin traces mark the Ornette Coleman staple "The Blessing," but it's a botched job with Allen once again contributing what amounts to mere atmospherics, and an almost Miles Davis-ish wheeze stamping out any similarities to the original. The band ups the tempo on "Blues a la Carte," a Wayne Shorter composition, but Allen's piano is the equivalent of playing scales (with a touch of pastoral Tyner technique tossed in). Trumpeter Alessi contributes another tune, "Irony," in which Coltrane once again provides flutters of notes that fall short of evoking any kind of melodic force. Comparisons with dad are again inevitable--and that's where he falls short. But then, to be fair, who wouldn't? --Joe S. Harrington

SACD. Japanese pressing comes in a miniature LP sleeve. This album features Ravi Coltrane's most updated style as an artist who is evolving each day. Two of the songs here are by his father, John Coltrane. Other standards include 'Ask Me Now' and 'Round Midnight'. And of course there are Ravi's own compositions. There were two different units collaborating on this project: one with George Colligan (piano) and Darryl Hall (bass), and another with Andy Milne (piano) and James Genus (bass). Drummer Steve Hass participates with both. These are free, improvisational numbers that illustrate the cohesiveness of the musicians. Listeners may find Ravi's sound to be deeper and calmer than on previous recordings. Recorded by David Baker. Village. 2005.

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The artists featured on this CD, entitled The New Young Lions of Jazz (also available as MP3 downlaods), are Jazz music s future legends. They are the "new sounds" in the rich legacy of Jazz. Having played under the last generation s luminaries... Coltrane, Parker, Davis, Dizzy, etc, these players provide an imaginative breathe of fresh air in Jazz world, and in doing so helped evolved America s original art form...Jazz. Recorded specifically for Arkadia Jazz, this CD, The New Young Lions of Jazz, lets listener s bear witness to the changing sound of Jazz. You can hear each brick being laid, each branch snapping, and each step taken in a new direction as this group of distinguished musicians evolve their sound with each note played. Don t miss out on hearing these future legends just because they are young. They re already musical Masters, the history books just haven t caught up yet.

SACD. Japanese pressing comes in a miniature LP sleeve. This album features Ravi Coltrane's most updated style as an artist who is evolving each day. Two of the songs here are by his father, John Coltrane. Other standards include 'Ask Me Now' and 'Round Midnight'. And of course there are Ravi's own compositions. There were two different units collaborating on this project: one with George Colligan (piano) and Darryl Hall (bass), and another with Andy Milne (piano) and James Genus (bass). Drummer Steve Hass participates with both. These are free, improvisational numbers that illustrate the cohesiveness of the musicians. Listeners may find Ravi's sound to be deeper and calmer than on previous recordings. Recorded by David Baker. Village. 2005.