ROVA — Orkestrova – Electric Ascension (review)

ROVA — Orkestrova – Electric Ascension album cover Album · 2005 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
darkprinceofjazz
Rova's take on John Coltrane's Ascension, the second go around for Rova, The first time they did it straight in 1996, and fairly faithful to the original, This time they turn it upside down and inside out in a live setting, tripling the number of collaborators and this time adding electricity, the Musicians include, Rhythm & Noise: Chris Brown: electronics; Nels Cline: electric guitar; Fred Frith: electric bass; Ikue Mori: drum machines, sampler; Donald Robinson: drums; Otomo Yoshihide: turntables, electronics. Strings: Carla Kihlstedt: violin and effects; Jenny Scheinman: violin. Rova::saxophones: Bruce Ackley: soprano saxophone; Steve Adams: alto saxophone; Larry Ochs: tenor saxophone; Jon Raskin: baritone saxophone.

There is a lot going on here, the Ascension theme is stated and it does sort of fall in line with the original, but to be honest, I find this more interesting than the Coltrane original, The strings and electronic touches seem natural for the music, the bass is also much more present on this, a product of 21st century technology as well, the instruments all ring clear and can be picked pick out with out much trouble. One interesting thing is guitarist Nels Cline, his freakout guitar adds a lot to the performance, Amazing how he seems right at home, I understand he did a duet album from 1999 covering Coltrane's Interstellar Space, I need to hear that I think, I hear a lot of structure and melody within Electric Ascension, which is a good thing, the electronics and samples are also all over the map, big Stockhausen vibe throughout, unlike Coltrane's Ascension, there is some breathing room employed, a quiet section with the samples going, then Fred Firth's Bass comes in to accent the mood, I believe at this time dual Violins enter into the music, I find the whole thing very interesting, It's free jazz for sure, and demands a very open mind to get anything out of this, for my way of thinking, I believe this has more in common with Stockhausen or Third Stream Music than Coltrane, if you have heard some of George Russell's early 70's albums, with Terje Rypdal, that would be a good reference point I think.

If you like Ascension or like free jazz you should enjoy this reworking, if you don't like free jazz or the avant garde, go elsewhere.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Sanyas Hard Bop
STEVE TURRE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Pianohooligan : Critique of Swing in Two Parts, Pts. 1 & 2 Third Stream
PIOTR ORZECHOWSKI (PIANOHOOLIGAN)
Buy this album from MMA partners
Jason Stein, Marilyn Crispell, Damon Smith, Adam Shead : Spi​-​raling Horn Avant-Garde Jazz
JASON STEIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Utopia Jazz Related Improv/Composition
OLIVER LUTZ
Buy this album from MMA partners
Charlie Pyne Quartet : Nature Is A Mother Vocal Jazz
CHARLIE PYNE
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Critique of Swing in Two Parts, Pt. 1
PIOTR ORZECHOWSKI (PIANOHOOLIGAN)
js· 5 hours ago
FULL ALBUM - Oliver Lutz - Utopia w/ Leif Berger, Constantin Krahmer
OLIVER LUTZ
js· 21 hours ago
Lift
DAVE WILSON (US/NZ)
js· 2 days ago
Nature is a Mother
CHARLIE PYNE
js· 2 days ago
Marta Warelis solo @ FourOneOne 5-11-23
MARTA WARELIS
js· 3 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed