Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Chris Pasin: Ornettiquette

Chris Pasin: Ornettiquette

By Mark Corroto
December 2, 2018
View read count

Track review of "Ghosts"

Included on an album dedicated to the legendary

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman, it is "Ghosts," a composition by saxophonist Albert Ayler. Trumpeter

Chris Pasin

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Pasin assembled an impressive collection of musicians to record Ornettiquette with

Karl Berger

vibraphone
1935 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Karl Berger and vocalist

Ingrid Sertso

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Ingrid Sertso, both connected to the 1960s revolution through their work with Coleman and

Don Cherry

trumpet
1936 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Cherry. In addition, there's saxophonist

Adam Siegel

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam Siegel, drummer

Harvey Sorgen

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Harvey Sorgen, and heavyweight bassist

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Bisio.

The Ayler connection is arrived at here from Don Cherry's tenure with Ayler's 1964 quartet recordings and European tour. Whereas so many covers of Ayler, particularly "Ghosts," get it wrong, Pasin gets it oh-so-right by tapping into the child-like innocence that is at the heart of the composition. But you be thinking: Ayler and Coleman ushered in the caustic free jazz revolution. Please don't forget both artists drew from blues and Gospel, and in Ayler's case marches and anthems.

Pasin's "Ghosts" opens with Sertso singing lyrics she penned for this recording, intoning in the spirit of Mary Maria Parks, "the night and day will pass away, but love will always stay," before the now familiar theme of "Ghosts" is delivered with the clarion call of Pasin's trumpet, soon joined by Siegel's saxophone, and the ringing notes of Berger's vibraphone. Adding Berger was a stroke of genius. He brings a sparseness, with his clean lines and melody, that anchors the music when saxophone and trumpet detonate and Sertso doesn't so much scat sing as speak in tongues. With multiple spins, the listener can focus on the pieces and parts: the aforementioned brass explorations, Sorgen's attack, and the sure hand of Bisio's bass, which contains the entire affair.

Pasin's cover is equal to recent Ayler tributes by the musicians

Mars Williams

saxophone
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Mars Williams and

Jeff Lederer

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeff Lederer.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

OCDC; Jayne; Ghosts; Tomorrow Is The Question; Just For You; When Will The Blues Leave; Lonely Woman; PTU.

Personnel

Chris Pasin

trumpet

Chris Pasin: trumpet; Karl Berger: vibraphone, piano; Ingrid Sertso: vocals; Adam Siegel: alto saxophone; Michael Bisio: bass; Harvey Sorgen: drums.

Album information

Title: Ornettiquette | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Planet Arts Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

M?nk
< Previous

Erik Palmberg: Swiss Time Was Runnin...
Next >

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.