Mathias Heise & Danish Radio Big Band: ‘A Love Supreme Revisited’

Reimagining John Coltrane’s ‘A Love Supreme’ is a bold challenge to take on, particularly in the big band context, but i’s safe in the hands of harmonica player Mathias Heise and the Danish Radio Big Band.

The brief introduction takes on the whole big band setting and sets the scene for Heise’s arrangement of Coltrane’s seminal suite. A Love Supreme consists of four parts: Acknowledgement, Resolution, Pursuance and Psalm. In this reimagining, Heise has added interludes and a harmonic cadenza, as well as adding Coltrane’s Alabama, all of which allows a personal stamp to be added to the arrangements and the new suite.

Taking what is often cited as Coltrane’s finest work and moving it from quartet to big band actually works. Perhaps it takes 20+ musicians to pay a real tribute to the original work of Coltrane, McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums).

Musically, the famous motifs and melodies are shared around the band, employing the harmonic complexities of the original and some rather stunning improvisations by this exceptional big band.

Heise’s harmonica cadenza begins slowly and tenderly, before ramping up into a very Coltrane-esque solo. I spoke to Mathias back in 2022 for an episode of Harmonious World, and it was a fascinating conversation - my first with a harmonica player.

From the start, right through to the final chords of Alabama, which Coltrane wrote separately to honour the memory of the 1963 church bombing that was a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement, this album honours the original. It is a group of musicians owning the significant contribution of John Coltrane and A Love Supreme - 60 years on.

Mathias Heise & Danish Radio Big Band: ‘A Love Supreme Revisited’ is out on 22 May