Dogon Research Music Pages - 2006 - Vision Festival - June 15

John Coltrane Tribute Band

Roy Campbell (trumpet); Louie Belogenis (tenor); Andrew Bemkey (piano); Reggie Workman (bass); Rashied Ali (drums)

Workman, Campbell, Belogenis Roy Campbell Rashied Ali Reggie Workman


Opening as "accompanied poetry" - Dalachinsky reciting - you've heard this sort of thing often enough in the past.  As the music unfolds Workman seems to become the focus.  Campbell grabs the ear, especially as trumpet played such a small part in Coltrane's groups. The overall tenor is quiet restraint and a focus on the Africa Brass and Village Vanguard timeframe - it's good that it doesn't try to recreate the "classic quartet" pieces - but wouldn't it be something if one day there might be a "Live in Seattle/Japan" recreation (might that also be more in tume with the normal propensities of some of these players)?  Overall - nostalgic but effective.

Maria Naidu and Dennis Gonzalez

Maria Naidu (dance); Dennis Gonzalez (trumpet, voice); Roy Campbell (flute); Louie Belogenis (tenor)

Dennis Gonzalez Dennis Gonzalez Gonzalez, Naidu Gonzalez. Naidu

Opening with the pair spaced on the stage, Gonzalez declaiming vocally.  Naidu wraps herself round Gonzalez as he switches to trumpet.  I hear more of a "classic" trumpet here than his more personal style, although this comes to the core as they move through the auditorium.  Belogenis and Campbell strategically located,joining only for the final minutes.  Unfortunately, as an uncultured observer of dance and performance art I'm just left thinking about the Sultan's Elephant (but we didn't get the rocket finale).

Bill Dixon and George Lewis

Bill Dixon (trumpet, electronics); George Lewis (trombone, electronics)

Bill Dixon Dixon, Lewis George Lewis George Lewis


Widely separated on a darkened stage.  Mournful/elegaic - both players do what they've done separately for many years, but the sounds combine rather than conflict.  Both have substantial solo passages, Lewis simultaneously working trombone and computer/synthesizer - I'm not sure where Dixon gets his flutter/reverb/echo from (foot pedals?).  Some of Dixon's (I think all the visuals are from Dixon) paintings projected onto a screen behind/between the players, changing to pictures of seagulls at the end (as always, the visuals pass me right by).  An effective and restrained set, maybe a little over-cool.  I'm not sure whether repeated listening to a recording of this would reveal deeper subtleties,


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