“…the real star of the album is Fewell. Yes, we already knew he is an excellent guitarist, but what he does here is stunning, playing as jazzy as it gets, yet adding little touches and notes, a chord here, an accent there, absolutely controlled and expressive and precise and … just right. And so slow and accurate … many guitarists could take a lesson here.”
—Stef (Free Jazz Collective)
“This album is as cool as it is hot! Highly recommended.” —Stef (Free Jazz Collective)
“Tribal Ghost is an outstanding album breathing the spirit of jazz history with every tone. You can hear the voices of John Coltrane (of course) and Pharoah Sanders, but also Lee Konitz and Jimmy Giuffre while Garrison Fewell’s sound, which is the secret sensation on this album, reminds of Wes Montgomery, Billy Bauer or even Grant Green. And all these influences are used to create the most beautiful music. ” —Martin Schray (Free Jazz Collective)
“A meditative atmosphere…feverish spirituality…exuberant jubilation… worshipping of the old masters…deep rootage in the blues…magnificent lyricism – something that pervades the whole album.” —Martin Schray (Free Jazz Collective)
“Free-form outings customarily reside in either total abstraction, or at times, meld dissonance with faint doses of melody. In a loose sense, Tribal Ghost is an exception to the rule. Meticulous plot developments are spiced with vivid expressionism, but once again Fewell tempers the intensity level with windswept movements and transcendent overtones. Tribal Ghost is an unhurried production, incited by the musicians’ concentrated focus and seamless distribution of colorific improvisational segments and well- defined narratives.” —Glenn Astarita (All About Jazz)
“Simmering and smoking aplenty… never quite surrendering to flame.”
— New York Times
“A really beautiful sound that comes from the ringing guitar tones of Garrison Fewell, and the twin reeds of John Tchicai and Charlie Kohlhase…gives the record a great sense of space with Fewell’s guitar bridging the space and creating a resonance that really holds the whole thing together. The set’s proof that they do still make ’em like they used to – at least in terms of spiritual avant sessions.” —Dusty Groove
“Fewell develops a slow building guitar opening to “The Queen of Ra” that reminds me of the opening of of “Shhh>Peaceful” by Miles Davis. A fine collective album, quiet and thoughtful, played at a summering level which allows space for all voices to be heard.” —Jazz and Blues Blogspot
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John Tchicai, Charlie Kohlhase, Garrison Fewell, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart – Tribal Ghost (NoBusiness, 2013) *****
The only reason why I did hesitate to give this album a five-star rating is because it is so short, and indeed, only thirty-five minutes long, but what you get is so good, so subtle, so beautiful and sensitive and jazzy and free that the listener cannot complain at all. Even with its short length, you get more than value for money.
Martin has already reviewed this album, so I will not repeat what he wrote. I justed wanted to emphasise the fact that the band is absolutely outstanding, with John Tchicai on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, Charlie Kohlhase on alto, tenor and baritone sax, Garrison Fewell on guitar, Cecil McBee on bass and Billy Hart on drums.
“Queen of Ra” and “Llanto Del Indio” already appear on the amazing “Good Night Songs“, a collaboration of Fewell, Tchicai and Kohlase, but then without a rhythm section, which makes the tunes more intimate and introspective. “Llanto Del Indio” has been released on the New York Art Quartet’s “35th Reunion” CD (2000), with Rosewell Rudd on trombone, and on “Cadencia Nova Danica“.
“Queen Of Ra“, also featured on “Big Chief Dreaming“, an album from 2005 on which Fewell and Tchicai are the lead voices, in a quintet similar to this one, and yet, the version on “Tribal Ghost” is so much more subtle and compelling, in a way that’s hard to describe, yet it somehow gels better.
The beginning of the second side starts with the introduction of “Venus“, which also features on “One Long Minute” (2009), and then expands into “Dark Matter“, an equally riveting slow theme, full of grace and sadness.
So if all these tunes have been played before, what makes them so unique now?
First of all, the overall consistency of sound and quality throughout the album is amazing.
Second, the entire band is excellent at any give moment. Tchicai and Kohlhase are fabulous in their controlled passion, McBee and Hart are an incredible rhythm section, adding pulse and dynamics that few of the previous recordings had, but the real star of the album is Fewell. Yes, we already knew he is an excellent guitarist, but what he does here is stunning, playing as jazzy as it gets, yet adding little touches and notes, a chord here, an accent there, absolutely controlled and expressive and precise and … just right. And so slow and accurate … many guitarists could take a lesson here.
Third, the whole album adds a kind of intimacy to the John Coltrane legacy of expansive and epic post-bop and free jazz. It is a kind of down to earth, more human, more humanistic approach to Coltrane’s exploration of the universe. It is tribal as the title suggests, yet then of the introspective rather than the exuberant kind.
This album is as cool as it is hot!
Highly recommended.
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The Free Jazz Collective
John Tchicai, Charlie Kohlhase, Garrison Fewell, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart
Tribal Ghost (NoBusiness, 2013) ****½
Only at the end of his career John Tchicai, a man who played with Albert Ayler and John Coltrane and who was one of the great voices in free jazz, was allowed to have his first and only weeklong residency at a New York Jazz club, the Birdland. For the concerts Tchicai (ts, b-cl) expanded his trio consisting of Charlie Kohlhase (as, ts, baritone-sax) and Garrison Fewell (g) with Cecil McBee (b) and Billy Hart (dr) because this was the only precondition the Birdland booker had. Tchicai chose these two legends because according to the liner notes he wanted someone who “could play time, could swing and play free”. And what an excellent decision that was!
“Tribal Ghost” is an outstanding album breathing the spirit of jazz history with every tone. You can hear the voices of John Coltrane (of course) and Pharoah Sanders, but also Lee Konitz and Jimmy Giuffre while Garrison Fewell’s sound, which is the secret sensation on this album, reminds of Wes Montgomery, Billy Bauer or even Grant Green. And all these influences are used to create the most beautiful music.
The first track, “Tribal Ghost”, starts with Tchicai, Kohlhase, and particularly Fewell in the focus building up a meditative atmosphere and immediately you can sense this feverish spirituality, this exuberant jubilation, this worshipping of the old masters, this deep rootage in the blues, this magnificent lyricism – something that pervades the whole album, as well as the fact that the tracks are full of surprises: in “Tribal Ghost” the musicians stop all of a sudden, just to reinvent the track as a funk/jazz stomper with Tchicai and McBee holding a hypnotic beat while Kohlhase, who is the actual tribal ghost here, conjures a higher power with Fewell throwing in sharp licks, riffs and thrills.
“The Queen of Ra”, a piece Fewell wrote for Tchicai, also begins in a dark and somber mood with a bowed bass, guitar arpeggios and glockenspiel before Tchicai and Kohlhase break up the atmosphere with a cool jazz theme. The whole piece reminds of a ritual service, especially when McBee leaves his function of maintaining the pulse just to battle with Kohlhase, pushing him to a marvelous solo full of melancholic, angry, expressive and energetic cries.
“Dark Matter”, a piece which was inspired by John Carter’s “Castles of Ghana”, swings almost harmlessly and elegantly but there is also a latent dangerous temptation. It also contains the most beautiful theme on this album.
Yet, the last piece, “Llanto Del Indio” (the only composition by John Tchicai, the others are written by Fewell), is the highlight of the album. After a brief introduction McBee takes on a soulful groove (according to Fewell it was not planned) and the saxes and the guitar seem to dance around each other like children in heavenly joyful ecstasy – innocent and tender, one of these musical moments you want to last forever.
It is all the more tragic that John Tchicai, a man like a tree, died last year recovering from a brain hemorrhage. His last words on this album are: “Have a good life and thanks for spending some time with us. We hope to meet you again sometime in the future.” Unfortunately, not in this world.
The album, which was recorded on February 9th and 10th in 2007, is available as a limited vinyl edition of 1000 copies.
You can listen to a snippet of “Dark Matter” on the label’s website (http://nobusinessrecords.com/) where you can also buy the record. You can also purchase it at instantjazz.com.
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(FREE) JAZZ ALCHEMIST by Jazzowy Alchemik — Friday, October 25, 2013
John Tchicai – Tribal Ghost [NoBusiness]
John Tchicai – tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Charlie Kohlhase – alto, tenor and baritone saxophones
Garrison Fewell – guitar and percussion
Cecil McBee – bass
Billy Hart – drums
The “Tribal Ghost” presents four pieces recorded on february 9th and 10th of 2007 in the legendary space of Birdland, with Tchicai leading a quintet formed by himself, Charlie Kohlhase at the frontline, Garrison Fewell on guitar (also the composer of three tunes) and the stellar rhythm section with Cecil McBee on bass and Billy Hart on drums.The music on the disc (vinyl only release) shows musical wisdom and sincerity. The music has natural flow, nothing seems forced, the music draws on the tradition of free jazz with some ethnic, blues infusions. “Tribal Ghost” begins with mystic tune dark and bluesy, mysterious, slighlty exotic touch or percussion. The “Queen of Ra” is a meditative peace, with a chant-like melodic theme, percussion gongs, drone bass notes, underlining the shamanic explorations for the soulful saxophone by Charlie Kahlhase and freely joyfull Tchicai. “Dark Matter” has the leader on the bass clarinet, with the double-reed frontline and the bass digging a slow and graceful groove and jazzy guitar filling the soundspace with spare bluesy sounds. The album is ends with Thicai’s tune “Llanto Del Indio” a mourning chant, intimate, peacefull, filled with sadness and yet the sense of consolation. The piece gathers tempo and momentum but the tribal elements of the music, throughout the LP, never fall into the abyss of the exuberance, the music always mantaining its intimate, meditative feeling.
The playing is passionate yet controlled, elegant, immaginative, there’s plenty of feeling, intimacy, tension. The two frontmen practically finish each other lines (the Tchicai’s fiery solo, against the baritone, bass and guitar stating the riff is one of the most intense moments of the cd). The rhythm sections is subtle, precise and gives energy, as long-burning fuel. Fewell’s guitar cements the band, jazzy, bluesy, fabulous feeling, never overplayed, modest and yet crucial to the group’s sound.
“Have a good life and thanks for spending some time with us” – Tchicai says goodbye as the concert ends. It should be us to thank him for sharing his music with us. A beautifull music.
______________________________________________________________Tchicai Tchicai – Kohlhase – Fewell – McBee – Hart: Tribal Ghost (2013)
By GLENN ASTARITA, Published: November 18, 2013 at All About Jazz
Late saxophonist John Tchicai’s roots and influences emanated with the 1960s innovative free-jazz ensemble, The New York Art Quartet. He became a significant global artist in all things considered to be cutting-edge within the ever-expansive jazz vernacular. This 2007 concert, recorded at the New York City venue Birdland, features compositions by guitarist Garrison Fewell and one track written by Tchicai. Ultimately, the album is unique from a perspective that includes sojourns into the avant jazz space, while containing memorably melodic themes, often standing as reference points amid the all-star group’s improvisational dialogues. Thus, many free-form outings customarily reside in either total abstraction, or at times, meld dissonance with faint doses of melody. In a loose sense, Tribal Ghost is an exception to the rule.
Tchicai and multi-woodwind ace Charles Kohlhase inaugurate thematic construction atop a blithe ostinato with yearning notes and Fewell’s shady and tuneful lines. They subsequently raise the pitch and open it up, gelled by Tchicai’s steely tenor sax phrasings. Consequently, each piece features the frontline’s spirited voicings, as they bridge harmony and discord with soulful balladry and portentously crafted motifs. “Dark Matter” idealizes these factors, prominently supported by Cecil McBee’s deep bass lines. Here, the band renders mood-evoking sentiment while Fewell underscores and circles around the core mantra. But “Llanto Del Indio,” offers a trance-like aura, set forth by the bassist’s nimbly plucked ostinato groove. As Tchicai and Kohlhase acquire vocal characteristics via their bluesy phrasings above drummer Billy Hart’s understated Latin pulse. Otherwise, their meticulous plot developments are spiced with vivid expressionism, but once again Fewell tempers the intensity level with windswept movements and transcendent overtones. To summarize, Tribal Ghost is an unhurried production, incited by the musicians’ concentrated focus and seamless distribution of colorific improvisational segments and well- defined narratives.
2. Mary Halvorson, Illusionary Sea (Firehouse 12)
3. Fire! Orchestra, Exit! (Rune Grammofon)
4. John Tchicai, Tribal Ghost (NoBusiness Records)
5. Matthew Shipp, Piano Sutras (Thirsty Ear)
6. RED Trio, Rebento (NoBusiness Records)
7. Mike Reed’s People Places & Things, Second Cities Volume 1 (482 Music)
8. Kris Davis, Massive Threads (Thirsty Ear)
9. Taylor Ho Bynum, Navigation (Firehouse 12)
10. Adam Lane, Absolute Horizon (NoBusiness Records)
11. Lotte Anker, Birthmark (Clean Feed)
12. Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House, Strong Place (Intakt)
http://oscuraeralanoche.blogspot.com.es/2013/12/mi-lista-de-favoritos-de-2013.html
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Tom Hull – Best Jazz Albums of 2013
| #69 |  |
John Tchicai/Charlie Kohlhase/Garrison Fewell/Cecil McBee/Billy Hart: Tribal Ghost (2007, NoBusiness): The late Danish tenor saxophonist — Roswell Rudd’s partner in the New York Art Quartet — sparring with a second sax (Kohlhase) and guitar (Fewell), their odd trio rounded out with guest stars on bass and drums. Four cuts, three by Fewell, his guitar tying them into neat little grooves, the saxes not clashing but embroidering. |
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Best of 2013 by Funkateer — Organissimo.org
Barry Guy, MAD DOGS (Not Two)
Peter Brotzmann, LONG STORY SHORT (Trost) A great box set
John Tchicai, TRIBAL GHOST (No Business)
Matts Gustafsson, CORRECTION (No Business)
Charles Brackeen, MELODIC ART-TET (No Business)
Parker, Guy, Lytton, LIVE AT MAYA RECORDING FESTIVAL (No Business)
Evan Parker, VAINCU.VA!: LIVE AT WESTERN FRONT, a previously unreleased 1978 live solo performance by Parker, who is at the height of his powers.
Anthony Braxton, ECHO ECHO—MIRROR HOUSE (Victo)
Joe McPhee, DECOY (Otoruku)
Kris Davis, CAPRICORN CLIMBER (Clean Feed)
Wooley, SEVEN STOREY MOUNTAIN, III-IV, (Pleasure of the Text Records)
Peter Evans, ROCKET SCIENCE, with Evan Parker (More is More)
Mary Halvorson, ILLUSIONARY SEA (Firehouse 12)
DKV Trio + Gustaffson, Paal ilssen-Love and Maximo Pupillo, SCHL8OF (Trost)
________________________________________________________________Jazz Jazz Journalists Association — Best of 2013 by Pedro Tavares (partial list excerpt)
Joana Sá (In Praise of Disorder) / Shhpuma Records
Otomo Yoshihide, Sachiko M, Evan Parker, John Edwards, Tony Marsh, John Butcher (Quintet/Sextet) / Otoroko
Ken Vandermark, Agustí Fernández (Interacting Fields) / Discordian Records
Joana Sá, Luís José Martins (Almost a Song) / Shhpuma Records
Jonathan Finlayson (Moment and the Message) / Pi Recordings
João Hasselberg (“Whatever it is You’re Seeking, Won’t Come in the Form You’re Expecting”) / Sintoma Records
John Tchicai, Charlie Kohlhase, Garrison Fewell, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart (Tribal Ghost”) / NoBusiness
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Best of 2013—DJ SONUS (RadioJazzFM / RBMA / Glasgow) Musica-Re
William Onyeabor – Who Is William Onyeabor? (Luaka Bop – LP 0079)
Dwutysięczny – Jedwabnik (Sangoplasmo Records – SANGO 031)
Semafor Combo – Semafor Combo (OBUH Records – V30)
Księżyc – Księżyc (Penultimate Press – PP8)
Matana Roberts – Coin Coin Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile (Constellation – 098)
Quantic And Nidia Góngora – Muévelo Negro / Ñanguita (Tru Thoughts – TRU 283)
Various – Afrobeat Airways 2 – Return Flight To Ghana 1974-1983 (Analog Africa – 074)
John Tchicai, Cecil McBee, Garrison Fewell, Charlie Kohlhase, Billy Hart – Tribal Ghost (NoBusiness Records – NBLP 65)
Hera, Hamid Drake – Seven Lines (Multikulti – MPJ030)
Quartet – The Quartet (Polskie Radio – 1246-47)
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Jazz and Blues Blogspot —October 12, 2013
John Tchicai, Charlie Kohlhase, Garrison Fewell, Cecil McBee and Billy Hart – Tribal Ghost (NoBusiness, 2013)
This is a collective band featuring John Tchicai and Charlie Kohlhase on saxophones, Garrison Fewell on guitar and percussion, Cecil McBee on bass and Billy Hart on drums. Recorded live at Birdland in 2007, “Tribal Ghost” opens the album with light horns and guitar floating over a subtle bed of bass and drums. There is low sounding tenor saxophone with a nice gritty sound playing over the undercurrent of the other saxophone, before both of the saxes gain momentum and reach forth. Fewell develops a slow building guitar opening to “The Queen of Ra” that reminds me of the opening of of “Shhh>Peaceful” by Miles Davis. Light bass and drums move in, with pinched alto and tenor saxophones harmonizing and weaving textures. Stuttering blasts of nasal sounding alto and tenor come in with coiled power, playing in stark relief with minimal accompaniment of bowed bass. On “Dark Matter” sombre horns and guitar weave through the music over patient and thoughtful bass and drums, while “Llanto del Indio” ends this live concert with a slow and mysterious opening for guitar and horns, harmonizing in a spectral and haunted manner. Horns move around each other like a double helix, with subtle guitar accents coloring the music further. The album features very light percussion by Billy Hart who plays in a very subtle and shape shifting manner. Fewell has an appealing tone, moving through and weaving in and out of the music. Tchicai and Kohlhase play at a slow burn throughout and the mystical – spiritual – incantatory vibe suits music well. This is a fine collective album, quiet and thoughtful, the played at a summering level which allows space for all voices to be heard, it’s a cooperative group where no one dominates. Tribal Ghost – NoBusiness Records.
Posted by Tim Niland at 11:52 AM Jazz and Blues Blogspot
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Sunday New York Times Nate Chinon review of “Tribal Ghost” a new LP w/ John Tchicai, Charlie Kohlhase, Cecil McBee, Billy Hart and Garrison Fewell. It’s great to be reviewed (thank you!) but a major error needs to be corrected.
The article says Tchicai “didn’t perform all that much in New York in his final years.”
CORRECTION: I played over 10 dates with John Tchicai in just the last 2 years alone (2010-2012): The Vision Festival, George Wein’s Care Fusion Jazz Festival, Zebulon, Roulette, Evolving Music Series (2x), The Brecht Forum, The Players Theatre, The Local 269, The Stone, and Kirilli’s Jazz Loft! Add the week at Birdland Jazz Club in ’07, All About Jazz 1’s + 2’s Festival @ Cornelia St. Cafe (’05) when I played a duo w/ John, Thicai/Kohlhase/Fewell trio at Cornelia St. (’06), Five Points at Barbes in Brooklyn, plus three record dates we recorded in Brooklyn…. and it’s another story!
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