Beyond the Wall
(Nonesuch)
The alto saxophonist famed for his part in Miles Davis’s pop-jazz comeback was inspired by a journey through China to make this album. But while it features such orientally inclined titles as Qing Wen and Gwoka, it’s the spirit of the old master John Coltrane that hangs heavy.
The opening Calling has one of those portentous, throat- clearing Coltrane openings before swinging away with the lithe grace of Village Vanguard. Having Pharoah Sanders on tenor sax and the pianist Mulgrew Miller playing the McCoy Tyner role enhances the impression. But if you don’t mind this weighty presence in the shadows, Garrett has made a consistently engaging album propelled by the great Brian Blade on drums. Realization builds to a fiery climax over chanting Tibetan monks, while the lovely Tsunami Song features the serene sound of a two-string ehru. The final frenzied bliss-out, May Peace Be Upon Them, may seem a homage too far but fans will forgive the over-enthusiasm.
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JOHN BUNGEY