Love
Supreme Collective is the Ropeadope debut by Billboard chart-topping
saxophonist Frank Catalano and longtime Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy
Chamberlin. Chicago-based Catalano and Chamberlin met in 1999 at the former
Boulevard Cafe in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood during a jam session that
Catalano was hosting. On that night, the jam included John Medeski, DJ Logic,
Steve Kimock, Les Claypool and Sugar Blue. Catalano and Chamberlin started
playing together soon after for fun, mostly at each other's houses with the exception
of a few Jimmy Chamberlin Complex performances.
"I
have been a fan and friend of Frank's for fifteen years and I am happy we are
making music together," Chamberlin says. This collaboration has enabled
Chamberlin to reconnect with his jazz roots. Fans of Chamberlin's drumming will
be delighted to hear him in this context, as he demonstrates an inspired range
of depth in his playing. "Jimmy is my favorite drummer and I think of him
like he's my big brother," Catalano says. "We played together at the
Green Mill in Chicago recently and I still have the music running through my
body. It was so special, words can't properly express my feelings."
While
Catalano has nothing but joy and positive feelings for the music on Love
Supreme Collective, this inspired album has its genesis in difficult
circumstances. In 2011, Catalano sustained serious injuries after his car was
hit by a drunk driver. He cites John Coltrane's A Love Supreme as the spiritual
anchor during his difficult recovery. Catalano wanted to make a recording that
embodied the love, thanks, and praise of A Love Supreme without copying it.
Catalano was fortunate to have worked with A Love Supreme's legendary drummer,
Elvin Jones, who Chamberlin cites as one of his biggest influences. As such,
the passion felt for the material on this recording is easily apparent.
For this
project, Chamberlin enlisted his keyboardist from the Jimmy Chamberlin Complex,
Adam Benjamin (Kneebody), and Catalano rounded up PolCat members Percy Jones
(Brand X, Soft Machine) and Chris Poland (Megadeth) for the bass and guitar
work, respectively.
"This
recording is about crafting emotions and feelings," Catalano says.
"The way the guys set the tone and mood for each song is pretty unreal.
Love Supreme Collective resembles a through composed contemporary classical
piece with four movements."
At
Catalano's request, Ropeadope is selling the recording on iTunes as an
"all or nothing," album, because, as Catalano says, "I didn't
want this work separated and fragmented. While I am very proud of my recordings
for the Savoy and Delmark labels, this is the first time I used my classical
composition training to frame the work of a recording. This freed me to keep
Coltrane, Von Freeman and other spiritual energy near my heart and under my
fingers."
Catalano
is at a stage of his career as an established veteran in the Chicago jazz scene
where he often hears questions regarding the direction of his music and career:
What is important? What are you working to achieve? Are you happy with your
situation? What are you going after? With Love Supreme Collective, Catalano
chooses to answer these questions through his music. "It is easy to say
words," he says, "but to express these emotions, thoughts, feelings
in an instrumental album is something else. 'Psalm for John' is probably the most
special on a personal level. A psalm can help inculcate belief in divine
providence into one's consciousness. Percy Jones and I are bending our bass and
soprano sax notes together at the same time, without discussing it, playing off
each other, as if our minds are being fed this info. We did not filter or limit
the music in any way. It was a very
powerful and spiritual experience. I want to thank everyone who is reading
these words and checking out the music!"
Upcoming
Frank Catalano Performances with Jimmy Chamberlin:
October
26 / Iridium Jazz Club / New York, NY
November
14 / Mayne Stage / Chicago, IL
December
18 - 20 / Andy's Jazz Club / Chicago, IL
Upcoming
Frank Catalano Sextet Performances:
October
10 & 11 / Andy's Jazz Club / Chicago, IL
October
31 - November 1 / Earshot Jazz Festival / Seattle, WA
November
28 & 29 / Andy's Jazz Club / Chicago, IL
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