February 7, 2007
Editor's Picks
music
Rova : Orkestrova = Electric Ascension
Sat., Feb. 10, 8pm. $22.50-$30. International House, 3701 Chestnut St. 215.387.5125. www.arsnovaworkshop.com
Few recordings have dichotomized an entire genre like John Coltrane’s Ascension did. Upon its 1965 release, Ascension was simultaneously regarded as groundbreaking and blasphemous.
Those who recognized its revolutionary nature emphasized the improvisational liberation lent to its performers. Jazz purists, however, railed against allowing a dozen musicians free reign over a roughly 50-minute composition with little direction outside of a preconceived theme and a loose head-jam outline.
Four decades later the jury tends to side with ’Trane’s vision. Rova : Orkestrova celebrate Coltrane’s progressive artistry this Saturday, presenting an electric interpretation of his free-jazz masterpiece.
The performance is literally a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Wilco guitarist Nels Cline and Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn join Tin Hat Trio’s Carla Kihlstedt and turntablist Marina Rosenfeld to expound upon Rova’s previous interpretations of Ascension.
Two years in the planning, Saturday’s show marks a coincidentally numeric return to Coltrane’s original recording, as 11 musicians will once again tackle his monolithic piece and of course invoke ’Trane’s spirit as their conductor.
Experimentation will doubtlessly abound as the musicians take a bite out of Ascension’s tasty core. Digesting the contents … well, that’s up to you. Dig in. (Joshua Valocchi)
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