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Alex Coke & Carl Michel: The Emissary

By Kyle Simpler
February 7, 2022
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While much of the world was in lockdown during 2020, saxophonist

Alex Coke

woodwinds
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex Coke and harpist

" data-original-title="" title="">Elaine Barber had an idea that caught on. They decided to bring their instruments out on the driveway of the Austin, Texas home they were sheltering in and play music while waiting for their groceries to be delivered. These impromptu concerts turned out to be popular and soon became weekly events. The Emissary grew out of these concerts.

The Coke-Barber combination opened up new musical paths to follow. Coke's jazz background blended well with Barber's focus on classical and early music. With the addition of

Carl Michel

guitar
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Carl Michel on guitar,

James Suter

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">James Suter on bass,

Carolyn Trowbridge

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Carolyn Trowbridge on vibes and

Bob Hoffnar

guitar, steel

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Hoffnar on pedal steel guitar, The Emissary was underway. Having a pedal steel player might seem like an unusual choice, but Hoffnar isn't your run-of-the-mill steel player. While he can certainly play country and western, he also has an ear for modern, experimental music.

This unique combination of instruments reflects the equally unique mixture of compositions, which include jazz, classical, folk, world music, and even blues influences. The album features pieces by Coke and Michel, along with compositions by Hildegard von Bingen,

Paul Motian

drums
1931 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Motian, and

Lead Belly

guitar and vocals
1888 - 1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Lead Belly. In spite of the eclectic blend of music, the album never sounds disjointed.

The Emissary has a definite jazz foundation throughout. Michel's "Sol Y Luna," for example, has a cool vibe that features some excellent solos by Michel and Suter. Coke, who also plays flute, adds some

Yusef Lateef

woodwinds
1920 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Yusef Lateef flavors here as well. Motian's "Arabesque" also includes some excellent improvisational moments, and Trowbridge's work on vibes matched with Coke's saxophone, gives the song an appealing ethereal quality.

Being a tenor saxophonist, it's probably no surprise to hear some

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane influences. This comes across in Coke's playing and in the overall feel of the album as well. There is a spiritual quality present in this album, sometimes reminiscent of Coltrane's album, A Love Supreme (Impulse!, 1965). This is probably most evident in the Hildegard von Bingen piece, "O Pastor Animarum." Saint Hildegard, who lived from 1098 to 1179, composed the piece as something of a musical prayer. Here, as with much of Coltrane's album, the prayer is voiced through the instruments.

The Emissary is a unique album in many ways. It was inspired by Christopher Hynes' artwork, which is featured on the cover. Hynes' work is meant to be a form of visual poetry, where one really needs to slow down and pay close attention to the details. The same can be said of the music here. While it might not be easy to place in a single category, this music encourages repeated listening. It has a calming and refreshing quality that invites listeners to discover a peaceful place within themselves.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Arabesque; O Pastor Animarum; The Emissary; Sol y Luna; Alterations; Go Down, Old Hannah.

Personnel

Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet

band / ensemble / orchestra

Alex Coke

woodwinds

Carl Michel

guitar

Elaine Barber

harp

Bob Hoffnar

guitar, steel

James Suter

bass

Carolyn Trowbridge

vibraphone

Album information

Title: The Emissary | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Play On

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Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet Concerts

Nov 6 Thu

ATX Music Series: The Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet

The Rosette
Austin, TX

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