Translinear Light: Alice Coltrane Quartet, A Celebration of John Coltrane's 80th Birthday

By Rob Vuichard
Saturday’s performance of the Alice Coltrane Quartet was a once in a lifetime event. The concert was carried out as commemoration and tribute to John Coltrane on what would have been his 80th birthday. This one-night-only event showcased the talents of Pianist Alice Coltrane, wife of the late John Coltrane; their son Ravi Coltrane on Tenor Sax, as well as living legends Roy Haynes on Drum Set and Charlie Haden on String Bass.

Playing to a sold-out-house, The quartet played in a style marked and inspired the oud, the drone instrument so prevalent in the music of Indian Sitar master Ravi Shankar, a long term friend of the late Coltrane. The lyric fluidity of Alice Coltrane’s playing mixed with the mellow beauty of her son’s sax was a stirring homage to the partner and father that was taken from them tragically in 1967. Accompanying the performance was a tribute film to John Coltrane offering insight to the innovations that Coltrane made musically and socially, as his art was at the apex of the civil rights movement in the 1960’s.
Backstage, I was able to interface with the quartet. Alice and Ravi were extremely nice and humble people. Ravi and I had a great conversation about improvisatory music, as senior Noah Reitman talked shop with fellow bassist, Charlie Haden. Following the show Alice and Ravi were greeted by close to 30 family members from the Detroit area, Alice’s childhood home. “This is great!” remarked Emily Avers, a UMS Production Staff member as she stood back to see the large group regaling old family memories, while Producer Mark Jacobson snapped photos of the unforgettable homecoming. School of Music junior Melissa Gardiner, who was the recipient of the John Coltrane Scholarship, was given the opportunity to play her trombone in concert with the group during their Hill debut. When I asked her what the experience was like she said: “It was the most amazing thing, my heart is still pounding.” Check out more Jazz offerings this UMS Season at www.ums.org

BALLET FOLKLORICO DE MEXICO de Amalia Hernandez

I’ve enjoyed most of the Ballet I’ve been exposed to (most of it by U.S. companies), so when I took my seat at Thursday night’s performance of Amalia Hernandez’ Ballet Folkorico de Mexico, I really had no clue what to expect. It is no secret that a large amount of concert, theater and dance presentations offered to audiences in the United States, are European in derivation. In response to this, UMS’ season spotlights the cultural offerings of Mexico and the Americas with a varied roster of internationally recognized acts from the South American Continent, allowing audiences the opportunity to connect with unique and rare artistic presentations.

Naturally, not having been exposed to Mexican Ballet, I was curious and excited to see what the group was going to be like. In the dark of Hill Auditorium, a voice cried out over the rumble of percussive drums, and before me were 30 stunning male dancers, elegantly dressed in bright and expressive costume of the Mexican dance tradition. As they danced, the form of the ballet was held together with the expressive, earthy arabesque of the male form. Low to the ground, the men danced the traditional Mexican, Matachines. The Matachines is a dance performed in the Northern part of Mexico City. This dance is inspired by the customs of Pre-Hispanic people who danced exclusively to worship their gods. This dance has survived through the centuries of Spanish Conquest and occupation of Mexico and has been preserved to this day. What made this experience most amazing was the live musicians who accompanied many of the ballets presented with traditional Mexican folk music of centuries past. The company also presented to a sold out Hill Auditorium the following evening.

In 1952, Dancer and Choreographer Amalia Hernandez founded the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, having embarked at a very early age on a never-ending quest to rescue the dancing traditions of Mexico. This vital search came from a basic need to express (not only in Mexico, but in the rest of the world) the beauty of the universe in motion through dances from the Pre-Colombian era, to the Hispanic vice Royal period to the popular movement of the Revolutionary years. Since 1959, the company has presented over 5,000 performances, and both Amalia Hernandez as well as the Ballet Folklorico, have been distinguished with more than 200 awards. If you missed the wonderful offerings of Ballet Folklorico, here is a list of other UMS season offerings presenting the cultural diversity of Latin America!


Manuel Barrueco and Cuarteto Latinoamericano
Sun, Nov 19th, 4 pmRackham Auditorium

Tamango’s Urban Tap:Bay Mo Dilo (Give Me Water)
Wed, Mar 14, 8 PM Michigan Theater

Gilberto Gil
Friday, March 16, 8 PM Hill Auditorium

Pablo Ziegler Quintet for New Tango
Claudia Acuña, vocalist
Friday, March 30, 8 PMRackham Auditorium

Los Folkloristas
Sunday, April 22, 4 PMRackham Auditorium

UMS Student Blog !!!

The University Musical Society (a.k.a. UMS) brings performers from all over the globe for you to enjoy right here in Ann Arbor. As a student, you can experience the world's best in classical music, jazz, world music & dance, modern dance, and theatre right here on campus! Check back often for student thoughts and reflections on this season's concert and event schedule. Feel free to leave your thoughts and to start a discussion on what you liked or didn't like!

Enjoy -

Rob Vuichard
UMS Student Blog Moderator