Trane's Delight

In 1962, Poncho Sanchez purchased the album Coltrane on Impulse. He was 14. It was the first album hed bought with his own money. Hed been under the saxophonists spell for years, listening to him on the radio in Los Angeles. Tranes Delight, the first album by Sanchez in seven years, is a thank you, a tribute to one of his musical pillars. Issued by Concord, the congueros home since 1982, the date is a heartfelt homage to the saxophonists influence as well as a seamless extension of Sanchezs signature brand of Latin jazz. The 11-track set features Sanchezs longtime band: trombonist and musical director Francisco Torres, trumpet and flugelhorn master Ron Blake, saxophonist Robert Hardt, pianist Andy Langham, bassists Rene Camacho and Ross Schodek, and percussionists Joey DeLeon and Giancarlo Anderson. There are three Coltrane tunes here -- Liberia, Blue Train, and Giant Steps -- as well as a Latinized read of Duke Ellingtons The Feeling of Jazz, from 1963s Duke Ellington and John Coltrane. Sanchez takes insightful and wide liberties with the material. In his liner notes, jazz historian and author Ashley Khan argues that this is just as it should be given the saxophonists boundary-extending example. Giant Steps is offered as a spirited mambo with dueling percussion and a complex horn chart structured in staggered rhythms. Liberia is delivered as hard-swinging, spiritual, Afro-Cuban hard bop, with fiery montunos from Langham and a burning trombone solo by Torres. Blue Train is a deep-hued cha-cha. The latter comes across as a bluesy swagger that gives way to Hardts sweet-toned alto in a sprightly bebop vernacular, and the up-mixed percussion section percolates right alongside it. But Sanchez offers his own Latin jazz nod to Trane with the bands reading of Hubert Laws Soul Bourgeoise -- immortalized by the congueros early idols the Jazz Crusaders on 1965s landmark Chile con Soul. It a funky cha cha with a roiling tenor solo from Hardt. Si Te Dicen is a rich, silky bolero that juxtaposes the Joe Cuba Sextet version with Coltranes warm ballad style. Langhams Sube melds mambo, salsa, modal jazz, and post-bop in a glorious stew, with Sanchez and the percussionists nodding at the influence of Mongo Santamaria. The other originals from Sanchez and Torres include Yammote, a smoking salsa blues with fine soloing from the trombonist and Poncho Sanchezs Medley #2 -- Baila Me Gente, El Sabroso, and El Shing-A-Ling -- which offer seamless, impeccably arranged salsa with fine singing by Sanchez and a wondrous flute break by Hardt. The title cut readily references the bop frame of Tadd Damerons Our Delight inside a hard-hitting mambo. The closer is a modernized read of Bobby Manriques sparkling salsa Todo Termino (it appeared on a Sammy Gonzalez y Los Torbellinos album from 1978), with gorgeous vocals from Norell Thomas. Tranes Delight is savvy, sophisticated, and funky: a personal tribute that reveals the joy offered by Coltranes inspiration. More, it is a welcome return for Sanchez, a jazz giant and creative inspiration in his own right. ~ Thom Jurek