Joe Henderson featuring Alice Coltrane - The Elements [1974/2017/FLAC]

 

The Elements is a Joe Henderson classic, part of a decade of spirituality and psych-jazz experimentation that saw the eminent saxophone player break free from post-bop instrumentation and repertoire. Playing through Fire, Air, Water and Earth, Henderson leads his all-star ensemble—which included Alice Coltrane, Charlie Haden and Leon "Ndugu" Chancler—in an open-ended setting of heat and mercurial invention.

This is one of the odder Joe Henderson recordings. The four lengthy selections not only feature the great tenor-saxophonist but the piano and harp of Alice Coltrane (during one of her rare appearances as a sideman), violinist Michael White, bassist Charlie Haden, percussionist Kenneth Nash and Baba Duru Oshun on tablas. The somewhat spiritual nature of the music (Henderson's compositions are titled "Fire," "Air," "Water" and "Earth") and the presence of Alice Coltrane makes these Eastern-flavored performances rather unique if not all that essential: an early example of world music in jazz.

• Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone, flute, alto flute, piano
• Alice Coltrane - harp, piano, harmonium, tamboura
• Michael White - violin
• Charlie Haden - bass
• Leon "Ndugu" Chancler - drums (1, 4)
• Baba Daru Oshun - tabla, percussion
• Kenneth Nash - narrator (4), flute (3), congas, sakara drum, bells, gongs, percussion

Rec.: at The Village Recorder, Los Angeles, CA, October 15-17, 1973.

01. Fire (11:08)

02. Air (9:58)

03. Water (7:33)

04. Earth (13:14)

John Coltrane - Live in Japan 1966 (4 CD, 1991/FLAC)

 Live in Japan is a four-disc box set by American saxophonist John Coltrane and his last group, a quintet featuring Coltrane, his wife/pianist Alice, saxophonist/bass clarinetist Pharoah Sanders, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Rashied Ali. The 4-CD set compiles all the music issued as three albums in the seventies by Impulse!; Concert In Japan (1973, US 2-LP), Coltrane In Japan (1973, Japan 3-LP (side six is blank), mono) and Second Night In Tokyo (1977, Japan 3-LP (side six contains an interview, mono). (Some of this material was also reissued as two 2-LP sets in 1980 by MCA under the titles Coltrane In Tokyo Vol. 1 and Coltrane In Tokyo Vol. 2) The first CD issues were by Impulse! Japan as two 2-CD sets: Live In Japan Vol. 1 (same as "Coltrane In Japan") and Live In Japan Vol. 2 (same as "Second Night In Tokyo"). The US 4-CD edition includes both of these volumes, with identical mastering from the original mono tapes. The side six interview from "Second Night In Tokyo" has never been reissued on any CD edition.

Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda [1970/FLAC]

Journey in Satchidananda is the fourth solo album by Alice Coltrane. Its title (and title track) reflects Coltrane's inspiration by Swami Satchidananda, to whom she had become close, and whose disciple she was.

"Shiva-Loka", or "realm of Shiva" — the realm of the third member of the Hindu trinity, the "dissolver of creation". "Stopover Bombay" refers to a five week stay in India and Sri Lanka on which Coltrane was due to go in December 1970. "Something About John Coltrane" is based on themes by her late husband, John Coltrane. "Isis and Osiris", on which Charlie Haden replaces Cecil McBee on bass, and Vishnu Wood plays oud, indicates Coltrane's interest in Middle Eastern and North African music and culture. The presence of the tamboura, played by Tulsi, reflects Coltrane's interest in Indian music and religion.

• Alice Coltrane — harp, piano
• Pharoah Sanders — soprano saxophone, percussion
• Vishnu Wood — oud (on track 5)
• Charlie Haden — bass (on track 5)
• Cecil McBee — bass
• Tulsi — tambura
• Rashied Ali — drums
• Majid Shabazz — bells, tambourine

The Ravi Coltrane Quartet featuring Alice Coltrane - Live At Joe's Pub [2002]

 

Recorded for WBGO radio live in performance, 12 November 2002 Joe's Pub, New York City


The Ravi Coltrane Quartet:

• Ravi Coltrane, ts; 
• Luis Perrambo, p; 
• Darryl Hall, bs; 
• EJ Strickland, ds
• Oran Coltrane, as (6, 7)
• featuring Alice Coltrane, piano (5,6,7)