Rites of Fire is Kelvin Sholar Trio’s reimagination of Igor Stravinsky’s Rite Of Spring and The Fire Bird Suite; featuring Greg Osby and Carl Craig. Timeless Classical themes are combined with Jazz improvisation and electronic ambiances.

 

FRANZ A. MATZNER / MUSIC JOURNALIST / ALL ABOUT JAZZ

“A syncretic symphony, Kelvin Sholar‘s Rites of Fire is the product of 15 years of meditation on the history and esoteric mechanisms of musical expression. The richly satisfying album is unbounded by anything other than Sholar’s relentless commitment to self-discovery. Sholar’s own resurrection from clinical death to artistic and spiritual rebirth is embedded in the core of the multi-movement composition, which neither defies nor accepts conventional barriers. The piece flows from a space of integration, merging a complex network of historical tributaries drawn from Igor Stravinsky to jazz’s improvisational heritage to electronic, textural landscapes. No segment is without antecedent, yet no moment sounds derivative or artificial; the confluence is as natural as a river current, the scale continental.

At face value one is tempted to label Rites of Fire an exploration of Stravinsky’s Rites of Spring and The Firebird Suite using other genres and instruments to rework aspects of the originals to create a pastiche. However, this would be too simplistic.

The album’s sonic richness suggests a larger ensemble than the five musicians who executed the recording. Throughout, Sholar mines his study of piano forms to shapeshift from blues to the light touch of European classical to the off-kilter bounce and improvisational surprise of Thelonious Monk, to synthesizer textures, and back again. Long time compatriot Jaimeo Brown, himself a student of African American cultural history and identity, is equally adept at adapting to the composition’s challenging cross-cultural demands—swinging one moment, emitting fluid, shifting beats the next. Another key element is Carl Craig‘s use of synthesizers to add electronic layers below the acoustic performance, at times reinforcing, at others establishing competing dimensions. Throughout, Johnathan Robinson anchors the composition with his steady bass and delivers excellent solos, also serving double duty on the clarinet. Last but not at all least, Greg Osby lends his unmistakable, intricate alto saxophone to the endeavor.

One might imagine that Sholar’s highly intellectual process would result in the explosive, challengingly abstract improvisation often associated with jazz’s avant-garde. In this case, while containing moments of upheaval, the result is a journey of reconciliation that ultimately settles into a tender harmony of balance. The album does not demand that its audience has advanced-level musical knowledge. Quite the opposite. Rites of Fire offers a mesmeric invitation to participate in musical transformation. It shelters and guides rather than leaving the listener to their own devices.

Decidedly accessible for a statement so avant-garde and steeped in depths of musical knowledge and history, Rites of Fire captures a culminating moment in an insightful artist’s life-long pursuit of musical truth.”

KELVIN SHOLAR TRIO: RITES OF FIRE

KAS 006 – KASMAVTSU MUSIC

Kelvin Sholar – Piano, Synthesizers, Percussion, Drum Machine

Jonathan Robinson – Acoustic Bass, Clarinet

Jaimeo Brown – Drum Set, Percussion

Greg Osby – Alto Saxophone

Carl Craig – Synthesizer, Doepfer Analog Modular System (A-100)

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TRACK LISTING

1. The Sage

2. The Augurs of Spring, Dances of the Young Girls A

3. Infernal Dance of King Kashchei

4. Rite Of Spring: Introduction A

5. Spring Rounds (Feat. Carl Craig and Jaimeo Brown)

6. Rite Of Spring: Introduction B

7. Firebird: Finale

8. Firebird: Introduction A

9. Mystic Circles of the Young Girls A

10. Mystic Circles of the Young Girls B

11. The Firebird’s Variation

12. The Augurs of Spring, Dances of the Young Girls B

13. The Sacrifice: Introduction (Feat. Jonathan Robinson)

14. Berceuse (Feat. Greg Osby)

15. Ritual Of Abduction

16. Adoration of the Earth: Introduction A

17. Adoration of the Earth: Introduction B

18. Sacrificial Dance A (Feat. Greg Osby and Carl Craig)

19. Sacrificial Dance B (Feat. Greg Osby and Carl Craig)

20. Introduction: The Sacrifice

21. The Princesses’ Khorovod

22. Ritual Action of the Ancestors (Feat. Greg Osby)

23. Spring Rounds (Infiné Remix)