Ascension cover

Ascension

Recorded
Released

Two trumpeters, five saxophonists, a pianist, two bassists and a drummer gather, and for 40 minutes, they leave it all on the field. Fervid solos are bracketed by wailing, polyphonic ensemble passages; Elvin Jones drives the music hard, but still seems like he’s sprinting to catch up with the horn players, who are riding rocket sleds. Explosive and unremitting, but the more you listen, the more beautiful it gets.

Phil Freeman

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