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Album Info
Sharing a keen interest in the music of John Coltrane, Saxophone Summit was created by Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman and Michael Brecker after performing together at an Israeli Jazz Festival in 1998. Michael suggested after the night show that the group should continue to perform stating to Dave:
\"We should do this, keep it going\" but then went onto hesitate and say \"You know Lieb, we might get hit for this\" Dave went onto to reply with \"But Michael it's our time, If we don't do it, who's gonna do it? Who cares what anybody thinks at this point in life? Shortly after Joe would enter the conversation and with all three in agreeance Saxophone Summit was born.
One might assume that Saxophone Summit is just a tribute band who wishes to pay their respects to John Coltrane. Whilst this is one asepct of the group, they seek to do more than just emulate and sees itself as a collaborative workshop in which its members actively contribute to the musical material they perform whilst also recreating the feeling of the 1970s Jazz scene. In 2004 the band would go onto release Gathering of the Spirits, as well as expand in size with the addition of the pianist Phil Markowitz, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Billy Hart.
After a long battle with leukemia, Michael Brecker sadly passed away in 2007. Deciding to keep the project going, Saxophone Summit went onto record it's second album, Seraphic Light, as a dedication to Brecker. Michael’s brother, Randy was asked if he would be interested in partaking in the tribute album. Agreeing he went onto write \"Message to Mike\" as well as play in the group's rendition of Expression. To fill in for Michael, Ravi Coltrane was also contacted. With the passing of his mother Alice the day before Michael's, there was shared grief between the everyone, which in turn saw this project become a more meaningful outlet for their remembrance and grief of two jazz greats. Throughout the album, it conveys with great effect, strong spiritual feelings, instilling both a sense of sorrow but also a feeling a joy in the celebration of an amazing jazz artist. May he rest in peace
Michael Brecker 1949 - 2007
Personnel
Double Bass – Cecil McBee
Drums – Billy Hart
Piano – Phil Markowitz
Trumpet – Randy Brecker (tracks 5 & 10)
C Flute - Dave Liebman (tracks 2 & 7)
Wooden Flute - Dave Liebman (track 2)
Scottish Flute - Joe Lovano (track 2)
Alto Clarinet - Joe Lovano (track 2 & 6)
Aulochrome – Joe Lovano (track 9)
Soprano Saxophone – Dave Liebman (tracks: 1, 3 to 6)
Tenor Saxophone – Dave Liebman (tracks: 8 to 10), Joe Lovano (tracks: 1, 3 to 5, 7, 8, 10), Ravi Coltrane (tracks: 1 to 6, 8 to 10)
