Alex Coke & Carl Michel: The Emissary

While much of the world was in lockdown during 2020, saxophonist Alex Coke and harpist Elaine Barber had an idea that caught on. They decided to bring their instruments out on the driveway of the Austin, Texas home they were sheltering in and play music while waiting for their groceries to be delivered. These impromptu concerts turned out to be popular and soon became weekly events. The Emissary grew out of these concerts.

The Coke-Barber combination opened up new musical paths to follow. Coke's jazz background blended well with Barber's focus on classical and early music. With the addition of Carl Michel on guitar, James Suter on bass, Carolyn Trowbridge on vibes and Bob Hoffnar on pedal steel guitar, The Emissary was underway. Having a pedal steel player might seem like an unusual choice, but Hoffnar isn't your run-of-the-mill steel player. While he can certainly play country and western, he also has an ear for modern, experimental music.

This unique combination of instruments reflects the equally unique mixture of compositions, which include jazz, classical, folk, world music, and even blues influences. The album features pieces by Coke and Michel, along with compositions by Hildegard von Bingen, Paul Motian, and Lead Belly. In spite of the eclectic blend of music, the album never sounds disjointed.

The Emissary has a definite jazz foundation throughout. Michel's "Sol Y Luna," for example, has a cool vibe that features some excellent solos by Michel and Suter. Coke, who also plays flute, adds some Yusef Lateef flavors here as well. Motian's "Arabesque" also includes some excellent improvisational moments, and Trowbridge's work on vibes matched with Coke's saxophone, gives the song an appealing ethereal quality.

Being a tenor saxophonist, it's probably no surprise to hear some John Coltrane influences. This comes across in Coke's playing and in the overall feel of the album as well. There is a spiritual quality present in this album, sometimes reminiscent of Coltrane's album, A Love Supreme (Impulse!, 1965). This is probably most evident in the Hildegard von Bingen piece, "O Pastor Animarum." Saint Hildegard, who lived from 1098 to 1179, composed the piece as something of a musical prayer. Here, as with much of Coltrane's album, the prayer is voiced through the instruments.

The Emissary is a unique album in many ways. It was inspired by Christopher Hynes' artwork, which is featured on the cover. Hynes' work is meant to be a form of visual poetry, where one really needs to slow down and pay close attention to the details. The same can be said of the music here. While it might not be easy to place in a single category, this music encourages repeated listening. It has a calming and refreshing quality that invites listeners to discover a peaceful place within themselves.