Coltrane still on track

SAXOPHONIST Evan Carydakis and his quartet will perform music from and inspired by John Coltrane’s First Meditations for Mona Foma in Launceston on Saturday afternoon.

Joining Carydakis on stage will be Andrew Dennis (drums), Peter Waddle (bass) and Brendon Siemsen (guitar).

Carydakis said the concept was a prequel to last year’s MoFo performance, which focused on Coltrane’s album A Love Supreme.

Carydakis said that anything Coltrane played came from deep within his soul.

“It tells the truth and comes from the core, which is why I wanted to write my own music,” he said.

“His sound is deep and spiritual and that’s the greatest thing I’ve taken from him.”

Carydakis said First Mediations was recorded before A Love Supreme, but released afterwards.

“We will play the first tune from Meditations, Love,” he said.

“It’s based on a live version, which is a lot more uplifting than the album version. It really is a beautiful little melody.

“We will also perform two of my own tunes to complete the set, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness.”

Carydakis said after immersing himself in Coltrane’s later music he felt he had absorbed enough to the stage that he wanted to perform his own music. “Liberty came out of that,” he said. “It’s based on Love and is in Latin style with a little ostinato bass and descends into free form and becomes more about the group interaction.”

Carydakis said The Pursuit of Happiness was a quick modal tune in the style of Coltrane.

“Again, once we’ve played the melodies it becomes more freeform interplay,” he said.

“It really encapsulates both albums, but with my own stamp on it.”

Evan Carydakis and his quartet perform at the Traverser Stage in Launceston’s Inveresk Precinct at 4.15pm on Saturday.

Entry is included in one-day and three-day passes, available from tickets.mofo.net.au