SONNY FORTUNE
In The Spirit Of John Coltrane (Shanachie)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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There's hardly a reedman in the jazz world that isn't indebted, acknowledged or otherwise, to John Coltrane. Among those who acknowledge the debt (and, in fairness, most do), there's hardly a player who wouldn't love to do a tribute that would hold up in comparison to the original. Far fewer can pull that one off. Sonny Fortune is of those who can, and on this new Shanachie release, he has.

Over the course of some 40 years on the scene, Fortune has compiled an enviable resume, playing with Elvin Jones, Buddy Rich, McCoy Tyner, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Nat Adderly, among others. He's also appeared and recorded as a leader in his own right, with some memorable sessions which include his 1993 tribute to Thelonius Monk, Four In One.

He tips his hat to Trane with a set of seven originals and two Coltrane compositions. Joined by John Hicks (piano), Santi Debriano (bass) and Ronnie Burrage (drums), he lays down the first eight tracks with a variety of moods and colors, acknowledging the variety of sounds associated with John Coltrane, from the blues to his "sheets of sound" approach to his pioneering free work. For the last track, Fortune is joined by Coltrane alumni Rashied Ali (drums) and Reggie Workman (bass) for an improvisational meditation on the man, simply and appropriately titled "For John."

This is a tribute in the finest sense, with creativity taking preeminence over the too common tendency toward replication in such undertakings. It's the spirit, more that the songs or sounds, of John Coltrane that inhabits every track of the disc, and which makes it one of the finest in Fortune's fine catalog or on any jazz fan's shelves.

Track List:

Trane And Things * Hangin' Out With JC * Africa * In The Spirit * Mr. Jones * Hangin' Out With JC Again * Ole' * Say What * For John

© 2000 - Shaun Dale