Electric Ascension

Massive interpretation of John Coltrane's ASCENSION, performed by an all-star ensemble featuring the Rova Saxophone Quartet, Nels Cline (Wilco), guitar legend Fred Frith, Ikue Mori (formerly of DNA), turntable wizard Otomo Yoshihide, plus other stellar guests."Coltrane's Ascension belongs right up there in the pantheon of multi-recorded masterworks. We had a very heavy line-up of "free-jazz" players who we thought could handle the large ensemble improvisations, but somewhere in the middle of the performance, as I was standing onstage in a state of reverie listening - I looked up at the sky and thanked my lucky stars for the experience that I was then taking part in. The respect everyone has for the composer, for the other musicians involved, and for the form called "structured improvisation" makes the music what it is. We are indebted to John Coltrane (and other great artists) for inspiring US to engage uncompromisingly in the risky business of creativity." -Larry Ochs/Rova, 2003.