Liebman first saw John Coltrane live at the age of 15: “Once you see the light, you can never turn away from it, though you may try,” he has said of that momentous occasion. Liebman may be a Coltrane disciple but he’s no copyist. Rather he has used aspects of Coltrane’s saxophone technique and approach to harmony to inform his playing, which is more lyrical and less inclined to sound sheet prolixity. Selflessness is his fifth Coltrane tribute, here using nine Coltrane originals and re-imagining them in a contemporary context; thus drummer Alex Ritz rearranged ‘Mr. Day’ in alternating bars of 6/4 and 4/4 which has solos by Vashlishan on alto, Avey on piano and Liebman who returns to soprano sax, throughout the album, the first time he has done so for some while. Coltrane performed ‘My Favorite Things’ in 3/4, but Liebman and Expansions re-examine the tune in 4/4 that forces the listener to consider it afresh. Coltrane remained steadfastly acoustic during his career, but Avey’s electric piano on ‘Compassion’ and his synth on ‘Dear Lord’ has the effect of successfully lifting these pieces into a contemporary context.