Daniel Rotem: Wise One: Celebrating the Music of John Coltrane
Daniel Rotem

With Wise One, tenor and soprano saxophonist Daniel Rotem pays heartfelt tribute to his legendary precursor on a live club recording featuring the leader, pianist Billy Childs, acoustic bassist Darek Oles, and drummer Christian Euman. Rotem's all in on the release, not only in replicating Coltrane's classic line-up but in devoting almost the entire set-list to his compositions, the traditional “Song of the Underground Railroad” the exception. Wise One is no rote exercise in imitation, however: captured live on February 7, 2020 at the now-shuttered blue whale in Los Angeles, the recording sees Coltrane originals re-arranged and re-imagined, so much so the results largely support Rotem's contention that, with the exception of “Wise One,” “they sound nothing like the original recordings.”

Rotem's also stated that he wanted to approach Coltrane's music “from the spiritual side,” viz., doing more than merely riffing on his songbook and instead diving deep into the music's foundation, the ideas and thoughts Coltrane was working through that were critical to the music's development and creation. Put otherwise, Rotem aspired to present more than a surface take and honour Coltrane by investing himself deeply into his musical world and bringing similar depth of commitment to the project. Further to that, Wise One couldn't have been a mere exercise in imitation when Rotem's tone isn't a carbon copy of Coltrane's, the fact a natural outgrowth of Rotem's personal development on the saxophone. The same could be said about the others, too: Childs and Oles aren't Tyner and Garrison imitators, and no one would mistake Euman for Elvin Jones—good things in all instances.

If the performances are tight, it's due to both the calibre of musicianship and also the fact that the quartet premiered the music at the blue whale in 2017 and then recorded it three years later after multiple run-throughs. While the originals' themes are recognizable, Rotem and company invigorate the material with new approaches, something “Moment's Notice” illustrates in the way it's given a softly glowing ballad treatment reminiscent of Coltrane's tender side. The sensitivity of the performance clearly shows the reverence with which Coltrane's held by the quartet. Wise One isn't, however, a too-polite homage, as shown by the quartet's rousing “Dahomey Dance” and the dynamically swinging “Syeeda's Song Flute.” The closest the quartet gets to fury occurs during “Song of the Underground Railroad,” though the playing's still never as turbulent as Coltrane's sometimes was during his final period.

Rotem's thoughtful approach to the project's reflected in eloquent solos that are patiently explored, carefully considered, and methodical. He's no minimalist, but he's not prone to excess either, and Childs, his primary soloing partner on the release, brings equal amounts of circumspection, poise, and passion to his playing. The full tenor tone Rotem's been refining for years is showcased to beautiful effect on “Wise One” and “Spiritual,” and his soprano playing on the quartet's elegant evocation of “Naima” impresses too. Oles and Euman provide sterling support, with the bassist memorably soloing during the opening minutes of “Song of the Underground Railroad” and the drummer ever responsive to the directions the music takes.

April 2022