Stretching Supreme
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
The esteemed saxophonist Dave Wilson pays homage to John Coltrane here, where 7 compositions were fleshed out live with the help of Kirk Reese, Tony Marino, Alex Ritz and Don Monaghan.
“Intro To Part 1: Acknowledgement” opens the listen with the keys and brass blending with a blurry and playful vision of free jazz, and this leads into the 13+ minutes of “Part 1: Acknowledgement”, where Ritz’s deft drumming and Reese’s warm keys highlight Wilson’s sublime sax playing.
In the middle, the swinging and highly melodic “Part 2: Resolution” shows traces of Coltrane’s influence in the dynamic landscape, while “On The Prairie”, a Wilson original, is a barrage of adventurous and enticing musicianship that illustrates the depth of his inimitable vision.
Advancing towards the end, “Dear Lord” emits a soulful quality with Don Monaghan on drums and “Naima” exits the listen with Wilson’s interpretation of the Coltrane classic that yields a subdued Latin feel.
A listen with no edits or overdubs, Wilson’s love of improvisation and attention to the artistic portion of his craft makes for an emotive, spiritual and sometimes intense listening experience that touches on all the hallmarks we love about jazz music, and, of course, Coltrane’s legacy.
Travels well with: Eric Goletz- A New Light; The Chris Saunders Band- Dancing With The Widow St. James