HAMID DRAKE’S TURIYA: HONORING ALICE COLTRANE

Ndoho Ange – dance, spoken words
Susana Santos Silva – trumpet
Jan Bang – electronics
Jamie Saft – piano, keyboard, Fender Rhodes
Pasquale Mirra – vibraphone, percussions
Joshua Abrams – double bass, guembri
Hamid Drake – drums, percussion, vocals

Some tributes are bigger than others. Especially when it is one legend paying tribute to another, as in this case with Hamid Drake’s homage to the icon Alice Coltrane. African-American activist, composer, organ player, cosmic pianist, author of several books, harpist, and spiritual master Alice Coltrane was a woman with an extraordinary ability and capacity to bring uplift, renewal and regeneration to all those who crossed her path and listened to her music, which happened to Hamid Drake when he met her as a 16-year-old. A meeting that led to letter correspondence and essential inspiration for Drake’s artistic work. The sound of Alice Coltrane is the sound of spiritual jazz. She was a guiding light for many musician’s older than her and those younger. It can be easy to end up in the shadow of a great like her husband John Coltrane, but she had an artistic and spiritual vision that has contributed to her music and legacy shining ever stronger. A music that has proven to have a great influence both within and outside the world of jazz. What is left of her multi-faceted, brilliant trajectory? To answer this question, Hamid Drake relies solely on his drums and the memories of his long correspondence with the musician. As well as on his breathtaking talent, of course. Just as brilliant as group of top-notch international musicians that accompanies him honoring “The Other Coltrane”.