Tenor saxophonist Ravi Coltrane has put the finishing touches on his long-awaited new recording
Blending Times which is set for release on the Savoy Jazz label on January 13th. The follow up to the Grammy-nominated “In Flux" (a recording of such distinction that the New York Times declared him an artist who had “come into his own"), Coltrane again performs primarily with his stellar quartet consisting of Luis Perdomo on piano, Drew Gress on bass and E.J. Strickland on drums. He also invited special guests Charlie Haden and harpist Brandee Younger to perform for a poignant turn as a trio. In addition, Coltrane will be a featured performer in the Blue Note 7a touring septet which will embark on a 51 date tour of concert halls in 50 cities beginning in January to celebrate Blue Note's 70th Anniversary.
The son of John and Alice Coltrane has carefully crafted a career as a musician in his own right recording and performing with a distinctive musical voice and presence. His journey as a musician has been a thoughtful and instinctive one and his talent has matured without being overwhelmed by expectations. He has attained a comfort level with the Coltrane legacy referencing his father John (who died when Ravi was only 2 years old) with an unexpected ease and embracing the influence of his mother Alice unselfconsciously. In fact, Alice Coltrane looms large in the new recording as he was extremely close to her as she was both mother and mentor until her death in January 2007. The recording sessions that became BLENDING TIMES began during a period of tremendous collaboration between Ravi and his mother and were completed after her passing. The album has become a powerful meditation on the emotional transformation that comes from the loss of a parent, a mentor and a friend.
The complete track listing of BLENDING TIMES is as follows:
- Shine
- First Circuit
- Still Life
- Epistrophy
- Amalgams
- Narcined
- One Wheeler Will
- The Last Circuit
- Before With After
- For Turiya (feat. Charlie Haden & Brandee Younger)
