Drummer Franklin Kiermyer is a bit of a throwback. On Sanctification he reverts to the spiritual yearnings and sheer sound pursuits of John Coltrane. His quest is grounded in spiritual music. Sanctification is a date with saxophonist Michael Stuart, bassist Fina Ephron and pianist John Esposito in the proverbial jazz quartet setting.
In the tradition of the ecstatic expressions of post-Coltrane acolytes such as Pharoah Sanders-a previous Kiermyer collaborator-Sanctification establishes a roiling atmosphere of journey to enlightenment. Freely expressed music of this nature is often so deeply personal that it wears on the listener after a while, and Stuart’s vocabulary, while energized and buoyant, doesn’t lend itself to heavy doses of this type of free playing. In the calmer state proffered by “Invocation”-passion of a low-boil-Stuart is quite conversant. Not for the timid, this is music that may require a sweat rag by the time you’ve reached the closer “Dedication.”
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