World Saxophone Quartet
Yes We Can
Jazzwerkstatt Records
www.jazzwerkstatt.com

Jamaaladeen Tacuma/Ornette Coleman
For The Love Of Ornette
Jazzwerkstatt Records
www.jazzwerkstatt.com
By George W. Harris

Here are a couple releases by the father of the free jazz movement and his first and second generations of progeny. Ornette Coleman, who outraged the music scene back in the mid 50s, is now the elder statesman of a movement that, like a lightning rod in the political sphere, Sarah Palin has devoted followers and detractors.

34 years old and going strong, the WSQ has gone through a few personnel changes (the current group being Hamiet Bluiett, David Murray, Kidd Jordan and James Carter), but still manages to sound fresh and vibrant, particularly in a concert setting,as this March 09 gig demonstrates. I mention the date, as it is only shortly after Barak Obama’s inauguration, hence the President’s slogan as a track title (obviously written before reality set in). Some of the songs, such as “Hattie Wall” are lead by riffs from the Harry Carney-esque pulse of Bluiett’s rich baritone, while others have horns a-flying in a myriad of direction like peacock feathers, as on “The Guessing Game.” Exciting, and still relevant through the tincture of time.

Bassist Jamaaladeen Tucuma, who actually participated on the WSQ’s Political Blues, presents an album dedicated to a mentor and fellow musician, Ornette Coleman, who is credited with “alto saxophone (and ) wisdom” on the musician notes. Along with Tony Kofi/ts, Wofgang Puschnig/fl, Yoichi Uzeki/p, Justin Faulkner/dr, Wadud Ahmad/v and David “Fingers” Haynes, the music ranges from music you’d expect from the avant-garde “East Wind” and “Drum & Space” to some urban/electric funk on “Celebration On Prince Street.” Most successful of all is the gentle and thought provoking “Celestial Conversations” that has the woodwinds creating sounds like a gentle breeze through wind chimes. For an artist as polarizing as Coleman, his music and inspiration here is able to bring together many disparate sounds. Now, if some political leader could do that…