Jazz Articles about Ravi Coltrane

Ravi Coltrane: Mad 6

by Mark F. Turner
April 3, 2003

Ravi Coltrane comes out swinging hard on his new release as a leader.

Let's get the preliminaries out of the way. Ravi Coltrane is the son of the one of the greatest jazz saxophonists whoever lived--John Coltrane. But lay aside all comparisons; Ravi has his own voice and definitely has something personal to declare. While new to some, he is not new to jazz. He's been on the scene for a few years and has performed with many artists and ...

Ravi Coltrane: From The Round Box

by Jim Santella
November 1, 2000

With his forward-looking quintet, Ravi Coltrane explores acoustic jazz that is rich in overtones, characterized by lush harmony and centered on lyricism. Trumpeter Ralph Alessi shares the front line position alongside Coltrane; half the numbers are their originals. Favoring a Third Stream approach over swingers or fiery emotion, the quintet mellows some in both scope and intensity.

Wayne Shorter’s “Blues à la Carte” puts the ensemble in a festive samba mood as trumpet, tenor saxophone and pianist Geri Allen all ...

Ravi Coltrane: From the Round Box

by David Adler
August 1, 2000

The fact that he is John Coltrane’s son is really quite incidental to Ravi Coltrane’s work, as From the Round Box, his sophomore outing as a leader, makes clear. Coltrane the younger’s writing and bandleading are quite advanced. His saxophone playing falls solidly within the post-bop mainstream and isn’t earth-shattering, but as an expressive tool and an ensemble texture, it is concise and compelling. Coltrane’s band — now that’s the really good part: Ralph Alessi on trumpet and flugelhorn, Geri ...

Ravi Coltrane: From the Round Box

by David Adler
August 1, 2000

The fact that he is John Coltrane’s son is really quite incidental to Ravi Coltrane’s work, as From the Round Box, his sophomore outing as a leader, makes clear. Coltrane the younger’s writing and bandleading are quite advanced. His saxophone playing falls solidly within the post-bop mainstream and isn’t earth-shattering, but as an expressive tool and an ensemble texture, it is concise and compelling. Coltrane’s band — now that’s the really good part: Ralph Alessi on trumpet and flugelhorn, Geri ...

Ravi Coltrane: Moving Pictures

by AAJ Staff
December 1, 1998

Ed Walsh, Jr. was a baseball pitcher of little renown, the son of a beloved Hall of Famer. Ed, Jr. said something to the effect of “It's a curse to be the son of a great man." If that is true, than Ravi Coltrane labors under the greatest curse of all. He will be blasted if he tries to sound like his father; condemned by others if he doesn't. Practically everybody will expect him to carry on “the Coltrane legacy ...

Ravi Coltrane: Moving Pictures

by Jim Santella
May 1, 1998

With Michael Cain at the piano, Lonnie Plaxico on the acoustic bass, and Jeff “Tain" Watts at the drum set, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane makes his recording debut as a leader. From the modern mainstream with each composition the leader's, this session combines ballads and up-tempo romps with a fair amount of rhythmic vivacity. Coltrane plays soprano on two tracks, tenor on the others, adds Ancient Vibrations on three numbers, trumpeter Ralph Alessi on four, and alto saxophonist Steve Coleman on ...