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Ike Sturm: JazzMass

By Mark Corroto
November 30, 2009
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Because of its transcendent nature, listening to jazz is often considered to be a spiritual experience. Certainly listening to

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane's A Love Supreme (Impulse!, 1964) is a larger-than-life experience. Same can be said of bassist Ike Sturm's JazzMass, a 10-part construction for jazz septet, voices and strings that presents prayer and music as a sacrament.

Sturm, graduate of the Eastman School of Music and protégé of Dave Holland, is the music director for the jazz ministry at Saint Peter's Church in Manhattan. He was commissioned to compose and produce this music by St. Peter's, where a weekly jazz vespers service is held.

Without a doubt a labor of love, the recording features an all-star cast of jazz musicians including saxophonists

Donny McCaslin

saxophone, tenor
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Donny McCaslin and

Loren Stillman

saxophone, alto
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Loren Stillman, trumpeter

Ingrid Jensen

trumpet
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Ingrid Jensen and drummer

Ted Poor

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Ted Poor. Taking the format of a Catholic Mass, the music proceeds from invocation ("Kyrie") to recessional ("Shine"). Sturm's arrangement blends a 14-member choir, 10-piece string section, and septet in such a feathery manner that the music levitates. The outstanding performer here is leading vocalist Misty Ann Strum, whose sung recitation of sacred text is the center of the recording.

For jazz listeners the intersection of a choir, strings and a jazz septet is perplexing. If not for Sturm's arrangement, that may be true; but when McCaslin's tenor saxophone takes flight over the raised voices of the choir praising God, the fit feels natural. This is not jazz plus strings as much as it is a unified concept, as if this church's roof is big enough to fit the many sounds invited into this Mass.

After Sturm's solo bass "Interlude," Misty Ann Sturm is backed by the jazz septet on "Just As I Am"; McCaslin responding with Coltrane-like flights of notes before the hushed vocalist returns, accompanied by strings. Guitarist Ryan Ferreira supplies the supernatural voice behind "Offering: Stillness," a wordless vocal piece that champions a tender and sympathetic mood, and he flavors the improvised Thanksgiving" with more ethereal and exquisite notes. The music ends with "Hymn: Shine" an uplifting folk/spiritual piece that is a perfect blues processional, allowing the anointed to go forth into the world thinking peaceful and engaged thoughts.

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Track Listing

Kyrie; Gloria; Interlude; Hymn: Just As I Am; Offertory: Stillness; Santus; Thanksgiving; Our Father; Agnus Dei; Hymn: Shine.

Personnel

Ike Sturm

bass

Misty Ann Sturm: voice; Loren Stillman: alto saxophone; Donny McCaslin: tenor saxophone; Ingrid Jensen: trumpet, flugelhorn; Adam Benjamin: piano, Rhodes piano; Ryan Ferreira: guitar; Ike Sturm: basses; Ted Poor: drums; Tim Albright: trombone; Sara Caswell: violin; Madeline Sturm: clarinet; Sarah Brailey: soprano; Janet Planet: soprano; Abigayl Venman: soprano; Brenda Earle: alto; Sarah Lynch: alto; Melissa Stylianou: alto; Anna Williams: alto; Charlie Christenson: tenor; Scott Murphree: tenor; John Young: tenor; Roosevelt Andre Credit: baritone; Clay Greeberg: baritone; Mark Sullivan: baritone; Sara Caswell: violin I; Caleb Burhans: violin I; Courtney Orlando: violin I; Amie Weiss: violin II; Laura Arpiainen: violin II; Sharon Gunderson: violin II; Corrina Albright: viola; Beth Myers: viola; Maria jeffers: cello; Jody Redhage: cello.

Album information

Title: JazzMass | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Self Produced

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