Electric Ascension is a live album by Rova::Orchestrova, the American ensemble Rova Saxophone Quartet along with additional musicians, performing an interpretation of John Coltrane's 1966 album Ascension. The album was recorded in California in 2003 and released on the Atavistic label in 2005.Atavistic Records discography accessed October 24, 2014
Reception
The JazzTimes review by Chris Kelsey stated "The music's success owes largely to the structure conceived by [Rova's Larry] Ochs. Leaving such a large group to their own devices can be an invitation to disaster. Ochs averts it by sketching a schematic that structures the improvisation, breaking the ensemble into various groupings and resulting in a variety of sonorities and textures that sensibly unfold".Kelsey, C., JazzTimes Review, July/August 2005 On All About Jazz Kurt Gottschalk noted "Much of this 2003 recording sounds little like Coltrane's original, and much of it is truly great" while Eyal Hareuveni said "Rova, with its inspired Orkestrova, engages Coltrane's uncompromising compositional attitude and boundaries, pushing with its own sense of informed and masterful improvisation. This marrying of great minds and souls is what makes Electric Ascension such a great triumph. This time Coltrane's music not only heats the nearby atmosphere but also chills out your mind".Gottschalk, K., All About Jazz Review, September 23, 2005Hareuveni, E., All About Jazz Review, August 19, 2005
The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album a "Crown" signifying a recording that the authors "feel a special admiration or affection for".Penguin Guide to Jazz: Crown Albums List, accessed October 24, 2014
Track listing All compositions by John Coltrane - 6:22 - 3:51 - 4:06 - 8:31 - 4:12 - 1:58 - 4:05 - 2:05 - 7:21 - 7:06 - 5:49 - 8:16 - 0:18 All tracks are untitled
Personnel Bruce Ackley - soprano saxophone Steve Adams - alto saxophone Larry Ochs - tenor saxophone Jon Raskin - baritone saxophone Chris Brown - electronics Nels Cline - electric guitar Fred Frith - electric bass Ikue Mori - drum machines, sampler Donald Robinson - drums Otomo Yoshihide - turntables, electronics Carla Kihlstedt - violin, effects Jenny Scheinman - violin
References