Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet: Emergence

Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet: Emergence

By Jack Bowers
August 8, 2023
View read count

Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet: Emergence

Emergence, the latest album by the Texas-based

Alex Coke

woodwinds
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex Coke &

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Michel Sextet, is by and large chamber jazz, veering often into the realms of avant-garde and free improvisation. The standard of musicianship is high, the urge to listen a second time rather less so—an opinion that must be qualified by the admission that it expresses a neophyte's point of view.

The question thus becomes, what can be said about such an enterprise, given one's basic unfamiliarity with the genre? First, as noted, these half-dozen musicians are exemplary, regardless of the type of music they have chosen to play. Coke is splendid on saxophone or flute, Michel likewise on guitar. They are accompanied by concert harpist

Elaine Barber

harp

" data-original-title="" title="">Elaine Barber, vibraphonist

Carolyn Trowbridge

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Carolyn Trowbridge, bassist

James Suter

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">James Suter and

Bob Hoffnar

guitar, steel

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Hoffnar on steel pedal guitar.

Coke and Michel each wrote four of the album's dozen themes, Hoffnar one. The others are by

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane ("After the Rain"),

Paul Motian

drums
1931 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Motian ("Garden of Eden") and Valentin Silvestrov ("Bagatelle II"). Those authors should give a tangible clue as to sextet's frame of reference. It was noted earlier that Coke is splendid on saxophone; an exception is Michel's ballad "Presence," wherein Coke endeavors to make the tenor saxophone sound as displeasingly strident as humanly possible. While he may not reach that goal, he comes vexatiously close.

One point of interest: although the album was presumably recorded at a studio in Austin, midway through the closing number, Coke's country-flavored "Pop!," someone says "thanks for coming out tonight," announces the names of those in the ensemble, and asks for tips "for the wait staff." So there must have been an audience, even though its presence is inaudible.

What that audience heard was a free-spirited program of innovative jazz that included some respectable improvisation (usually by Coke or Trowbridge), occasional slices of melody and harmony, and a large helping of music that may best be described as exploratory or even atonal. Now that the course has been mapped out, pursuing and appreciating it is up to the listener. As advised, it is a matter of personal taste. The star rating reflects the reviewer's own lack of understanding.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

After The Rain; Rolling...the wind picks up and the boats cast off for Troy;Bagatelle II; Mangled Tango;4 Mobile Structures Dedicated to Alexander Calder; Locust Grove; Again; Garden Of Eden; Wait/Not Wait; CME; Presence; POP!

Personnel

Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet

band / ensemble / orchestra

Alex Coke

woodwinds

Carl Michel

guitar

Bob Hoffnar

guitar, steel

Elaine Barber

harp

James Suter

bass

Carolyn Trowbridge

vibraphone

Additional Instrumentation

Alex Coke: flute.

Album information

Title: Emergence | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Play On

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Look At Me Now!
< Previous

Long Old Road
Next >

Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet Concerts

Nov 6 Thu

ATX Music Series: The Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet

The Rosette
Austin, TX

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.