ALBUM REVIEWS : ‘Pursuance’ Has Its Own Rewards

KENNY GARRETT

“Pursuance: The Music

of John Coltrane”

Warner Bros.

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The operative word in the title here is “Pursuance,” especially in saxophonist Garrett’s definition of it as “carrying forth” rather than “giving chase.” The etymology may be somewhat shaky, but it’s a fairly accurate description of an album that is more inspired by, than reflective of, John Coltrane.

For one thing, the presence of a rhythm section that includes guitarist Pat Metheny, bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Brian Blade places a completely dissimilar spin on this music from the more familiar--and in some senses, more appropriate--work of the Coltrane team of McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones. The sound of Metheny’s guitar, in particular, imparts a strikingly unusual perspective to numbers such as “Giant Steps” and “Equinox.”

But neither Garrett nor Metheny’s soloing is hampered by the recording’s conceptual framework, and their provocative choruses--as well as the singular ensemble passages they generate in pieces such as “Latifa (aka ‘Untitled’)”--make this a continually rewarding album.

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