On his second release as a leader, tenor and soprano saxophonist
Ravi Coltrane succeeds in making a name for himself, sidestepping comparisons to his father
John Coltrane while acknowledging that obvious influence.
From the Round Box finds
Coltrane covering
Wayne Shorter ("Blues à la Carte"),
Thelonious Monk ("Monk's Mood"), and
Ornette Coleman ("The Blessing"), along with three of his own compositions and two from longtime musical associate trumpeter
Ralph Alessi. Along with
Alessi,
Coltrane surrounds himself with sympathetic, like-minded musicians, pianists
Geri Allen and on one cut
Andy Milne, bassist James Genus, and drummer
Eric Harland. As a leader
Ravi Coltrane makes sure this music is stimulating and thought provoking but never incomprehensible. ~ Al Campbell