I've just read an interesting short article about modern takes on "Passion" musical 'genre' that seemed long-gone until Krzysztof Penderecki brought it up again the middle of the last century. Passion of Jesus Christ became a subject of modern readings that would often omit entirely the religious message and search for more modern and alternatives readings - like "Jesus Christ Superstar", like controversial "Last Temptation of the Christ", but could also go way back before the time of Bach into the contemplative aura of medieval harmonies as in Arvo Part's "Passio".
(polish readers can find the article here, others can use the link to follow the youtube clips it proposes.)
I thought about writing a short note about two jazz cds that fit well into this subject (both of them were played durig the last radio program too).
Piotr Baron - tenor, soprano saxophones
Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith - trumpet
Darek Oleszkiewicz - bass
Marvin Smith - drums
Nolan Shaheed - cornet (last track only)
CelEsTis 2007
Piotr Baron, a prolific sax player, quite respectable figure in polish main jazz scene plays in a post-Coltrane vein (though on the mainstream side of the fence) and was never afraid of admitting, quite proud indeed, his faith and used it quite often as an inspiration (with previous cd "Bogurodzica" containing jazz readings of medieval gregorian choruses being a good example).
