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Rhythm
Music October/November 1997
Ian Dogole and Global Fusion
Ionospheres
Opening
with a rousing mbira prelude to Mongo Santamaria's
classic "Afro Blue," percussionist
Ian Dogole's Ionospheres presents established
jazz material in a new global light. A suite
of Miles Davis-inspired pieces highlights Dogole's
unusual mix of udu drum, bass clarinet, soprano
saxes, keyboards and world percussion. Sheldon
Brown's bass clarinet is reminiscent of Bennie
Maupin's on Miles' seminal Bitches Brew album.
Ionospheres
explores musical genres from Asia, Africa and
the Middle East, with nods to John Coltrane,
Ornette Coleman, and Sun Ra. On Coleman's classic
"Turnaround," Dogole's articulate
talking-drum solo is set againg Bill Douglass'
swinging bass. In the spirit of Sun Ra, part
of the album was recorded during a wholly free
improvisation. Skillfully blending world music
and jazz, Global Fusion lives up to its name.
Michael
Handler
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