I have been listening to Join Coltrane for years. His music still appeals to me after all these years. I never heard him during his lifetime It took me a while to appreciate his free jazz period.
The first time I heard Coltrane I was just learning to play blues. I heard him play Good Bait. I new he was playing a different approach to his music. I said to my thoughts he was going to be a great player and do great music never heard before. And he did. I talked to him a few times in the early/middle 60's. I'm still waiting for some one to change jazz like Coltrane did but it hasn't been done yet. He will go on forever, the great John Coltrane. And my friend. John Bender III
I started listening to Coltrane in 1969, 48 years ago-his music is as fresh as it was the first time I heard it and it still amazes me, for the beauty, it's complexity, it's virtuosity, it's humanity. In regards to his "free" period, since John Coltrane was so profoundly "honest", I believe he was searching for new sounds, new ways to play his saxophone, to create something new, he was experimenting. I just listened to "Expression" today in my car and the "mood" it creates is like no other recording!
rovingeye5 glad you can hear what he heard . I had to listen to live in Japan for a couple years until now I can hear the whole quintet , individually . It slowed everything down , the cosmos sounds become bearable through trane in his free period .
I had the opportunity to host an 'open space', as the piano player dubbed it, at my place every Sat afternoon for about a year w/ some very good players. Everyone would just show up and we'd start playing. Would usually go about 4 hours or so. You can really get to know your instrument that way unencumbered by any external elements other than the instrument itself. Quite often fascinating music and actual arrangements developed spontaneously on the hoof as ideas grew and bounced around the room. Amazing how, like those flocks of birds you don't know how they do it, you'd all just shift in midflight into some other form and direction. I came to realize that stuff is a greater challenge to listen to than to play! I've got a recording of my mentor, drummer Joe Charles (who was actually one of Trane's favorite drummers that never left St Louis and recorded very little, Billy Hart and HIggins knew him) who rarely free played but we caught him in a very good studio w/ some very good players once. The piece is entitled New and Now soundcloud.com/user-446029119/new-and-now and they had just fell into it as I realized and ran into the booth to tell the engineer to get tape rolling. One of the saxophone's here is one of Joe's oldest music friends Jimmy Sherrod. Both Joe and Jimmy and their friend Mose (tune Mose Knows by Jimmy is on this collection) had all heard Bird together as young players a few times. Bird actually took Mose into a sort of closet in the club to get away private and talk one time for about a half hour they say. Mose was a bus driver and very avantgaarde guitar player.
The description of the Half Note is wrong. The musicians did not "stand on the bar". They stood on a bandstand that was behind the bar. The bar divided the room. Bandstand and tables on one side. On the other side, people could sit at the bar for a modest sum, and then there were more tables. If you want to see what it really looked like, watch Lennie Tristano's band with Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh playing "Subconscious Lee". It was filmed live at the Half Note. It is on RUclips.
2This light is a perception, one could be considered a master musically by everyone in the world, but yet still feel he hasn't reached this 'light' (much like coltrane). any other 'serious musician,' does the same, we are always reaching out towards that sound in our head, we must always be reaching for something, because with music, its not about the destination, it is about the journey. Many players forget, they get so wrapped up in tryin 2 be good, they forget to learn & enjoy each step.
John Coltrane was a HERO. A true , unique, VERY brave human..and a REAL human being who'd tapped into the deeper subconscious of the mind, rejecting his ego and playing from deep within. Very few humans will ever truly do this! Today the music industry is hi-lighting the losers in society. Coltrane was a WINNER.
yea and as one of those serious musicians, i have that hope! i said we are all 'capable' of reaching this beautiful state that john had reached in his life. It is journey that asks for us to endure the many struggles & hours of practice, & understanding untill it gives us this light of which you speak.
"His ideas were like ribbons, streamers, going across landscapes"... Coltrane is the sound of searching, searching for something more, more real, more true. At times it's like he's searching every nook and cranny of the harmonic series. Coltrane says so himself, it's like he has too many ideas, he can't play the one single line so he plays them all ...
I ran out of space, but apply this same thinking to music. Free music can be, strangely, distinguishable. There are some free players whose music compels my attention, and others whose music bores or irritates me. I'm not a musician so cannot speak technically, but in listening to free music, I respond to the artist's tone and to the feeling the artist conveys in his work.
I miss him. A wounderful man and humble man. he practice all day all his life.. Andrew White may have written his solos but never could be better than trane. DONT MISS THE TRANE/JOHN THAT IS.....
@aarfeld I have to laugh here because "aarfeld" has misunderstood the announcer as many misunderstood Trane--Speaking as one who is similar to the announcer , you are absolutely right. and it shows your true accurate powers of perception The guy who is in the documentary is a real Jazz music fan, nothing else. Music is the ONLY language . Best wishes to you my friend.
Well, again, as someone who has spent many years drawing from life, and who admires skillful representational drawing and painting, I can see that abstract art allows for expression outside and beyond mere mimicking of reality. Many painters don't have anything to say, and their paintings, while skilled, are sterile and empty. They spend time achieving facility without knowing what they want to express. In the end, skill should facilitate expression, and is not expression in itself.
You're right, I never really thought about the fact that free jazz is akin to non-rep art. That puts it in some kind of context, but its hard for me to imagine, and its kind of maddening to me (which may be why I called it gibberish) the notion of someone reaching trane's level and then moving into a field thats un-melodic, unrythmic, and uber-dissonant. I think he was into acid and playing at the same time when he did that (I could be wrong). Its like James Joyce, a genius but finnegan's wake?
I agree there is no need for insults, but calling Coltrane's late "free" music "incoherent gibberish" is similar to adherents of representational painting calling abstract painting "incomprehensible chaos." You may agree with that, but as a draughtsman myself, who appreciates both representational and abstract art, it seems provincial. I grew up a rock fan and got into jazz through "free" music; over time, I evolved to loving Coltrane's earlier period, and such melodic players as Lester Young.
@bopbrother Oh, the announcer is a British Asian, like myself, except the announcer is from a Pakistani background but went to a British school. No, were not "snobs"(ha ha!) sorry if it comes over that way...one absorbs any accent that is local to ones environment. That's why you can have a Sikh or Muslim with an American accent etc. Alot of Indian folk LOVE & relate to Trane's music because he played "free", uninhibited and Trane got deep into Indian folk music & Sri Chinmoy.
@bopbrother: Um . . . he has a British accent; that's how they normally speak. It doesn't make him a snob, it just makes him . . . English. If he were a snob he'd probably have nothing to do with John Coltrane, rather than making a loving documentary on his life.
I love Coltrane but I accidentally bought the album "Expression" I think it was, and it was total crap. All free shit, completely formless bullshit. I don't know why someone who understood the language of music so well would resort to that incoherent gibberish, which is the best analogy I can think of.
I have been listening to Join Coltrane for years. His music still appeals to me after all these years.
I never heard him during his lifetime
It took me a while to appreciate his free jazz period.
The first time I heard Coltrane I was just learning to play blues. I heard him play Good Bait. I new he was playing a different approach to his music. I said to my thoughts he was going to be a great player and do great music never heard before. And he did. I talked to him a few times in the early/middle 60's. I'm still waiting for some one to change jazz like Coltrane did but it hasn't been done yet. He will go on forever, the great John Coltrane. And my friend. John Bender III
Wow just wow😱
As a musician, I must say that every serious musician hopes in their heart to someday get a mere glimpse of the light this man left behind!
I started listening to Coltrane in 1969, 48 years ago-his music is as fresh as it was the first time I heard it and it still amazes me, for the beauty, it's complexity, it's virtuosity, it's humanity. In regards to his "free" period, since John Coltrane was so profoundly "honest", I believe he was searching for new sounds, new ways to play his saxophone, to create something new, he was experimenting. I just listened to "Expression" today in my car and the "mood" it creates is like no other recording!
rovingeye5 glad you can hear what he heard . I had to listen to live in Japan for a couple years until now I can hear the whole quintet , individually . It slowed everything down , the cosmos sounds become bearable through trane in his free period .
I had the opportunity to host an 'open space', as the piano player dubbed it, at my place every Sat afternoon for about a year w/ some very good players. Everyone would just show up and we'd start playing. Would usually go about 4 hours or so. You can really get to know your instrument that way unencumbered by any external elements other than the instrument itself. Quite often fascinating music and actual arrangements developed spontaneously on the hoof as ideas grew and bounced around the room. Amazing how, like those flocks of birds you don't know how they do it, you'd all just shift in midflight into some other form and direction. I came to realize that stuff is a greater challenge to listen to than to play!
I've got a recording of my mentor, drummer Joe Charles (who was actually one of Trane's favorite drummers that never left St Louis and recorded very little, Billy Hart and HIggins knew him) who rarely free played but we caught him in a very good studio w/ some very good players once. The piece is entitled New and Now soundcloud.com/user-446029119/new-and-now and they had just fell into it as I realized and ran into the booth to tell the engineer to get tape rolling. One of the saxophone's here is one of Joe's oldest music friends Jimmy Sherrod. Both Joe and Jimmy and their friend Mose (tune Mose Knows by Jimmy is on this collection) had all heard Bird together as young players a few times. Bird actually took Mose into a sort of closet in the club to get away private and talk one time for about a half hour they say. Mose was a bus driver and very avantgaarde guitar player.
The description of the Half Note is wrong.
The musicians did not "stand on the bar". They stood on a bandstand that was behind the bar.
The bar divided the room. Bandstand and tables on one side. On the other side, people could sit at the bar for a modest sum, and then there were more tables.
If you want to see what it really looked like, watch Lennie Tristano's band with Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh playing "Subconscious Lee". It was filmed live at the Half Note. It is on RUclips.
2This light is a perception,
one could be considered a master musically by everyone in the world, but yet still feel he hasn't reached this 'light' (much like coltrane). any other 'serious musician,' does the same, we are always reaching out towards that sound in our head, we must always be reaching for something, because with music, its not about the destination, it is about the journey. Many players forget, they get so wrapped up in tryin 2 be good, they forget to learn & enjoy each step.
John Coltrane was a HERO. A true , unique, VERY brave human..and a REAL human being who'd tapped into the deeper subconscious of the mind, rejecting his ego and playing from deep within. Very few humans will ever truly do this!
Today the music industry is hi-lighting the losers in society.
Coltrane was a WINNER.
yea and as one of those serious musicians, i have that hope!
i said we are all 'capable' of reaching this beautiful state that john had reached in his life. It is journey that asks for us to endure the many struggles & hours of practice, & understanding untill it gives us this light of which you speak.
So when he finally took the horn out of his mouth Coltrane loved to eat comfort food so it is appropriate that the Half Note is now a New York Deli.
He wasn't the man we deserved, he was the man we needed.
Audible art as a vehicle of higher ground - ribbons of inspiration - a life of constant visions
'practiced like a man with no talent...and he had all the talent in the world'
woah, trane was a legend
sweetest voice
"His ideas were like ribbons, streamers, going across landscapes"... Coltrane is the sound of searching, searching for something more, more real, more true. At times it's like he's searching every nook and cranny of the harmonic series. Coltrane says so himself, it's like he has too many ideas, he can't play the one single line so he plays them all ...
I ran out of space, but apply this same thinking to music. Free music can be, strangely, distinguishable. There are some free players whose music compels my attention, and others whose music bores or irritates me. I'm not a musician so cannot speak technically, but in listening to free music, I respond to the artist's tone and to the feeling the artist conveys in his work.
THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER TRANE'
all of coltrane is a logical progressive journey...from all his recordings there is a beautiful song .....
it's called "Wise One" one of his most beautiful compositions, very lyrical
I miss him. A wounderful man and humble man. he practice all day all his life.. Andrew White may have written his solos but never could be better than trane. DONT MISS THE TRANE/JOHN THAT IS.....
Trane man...what an artist!
i think that when john played, and he was really PLAYIN! he became one with god, one.
its something we are all capable of....
A Great man. Worshiped as a god, yet so humble and human.
@AnsaralZindiqi
Mr Benny Golson at home - and its a super tasteful crrib - why am I not surprised - Mr Golson deserves a doc all his own
Inspirational
I like how the algo lead me to part 2 immediately
Dig the message. U a in-tune cat. Universal Blessings
@aarfeld
I have to laugh here because "aarfeld" has misunderstood the announcer as many misunderstood Trane--Speaking as one who is similar to the announcer , you are absolutely right. and it shows your true accurate powers of perception
The guy who is in the documentary is a real Jazz music fan, nothing else.
Music is the ONLY language .
Best wishes to you my friend.
Well, again, as someone who has spent many years drawing from life, and who admires skillful representational drawing and painting, I can see that abstract art allows for expression outside and beyond mere mimicking of reality. Many painters don't have anything to say, and their paintings, while skilled, are sterile and empty. They spend time achieving facility without knowing what they want to express. In the end, skill should facilitate expression, and is not expression in itself.
he was great b/c he practiced the most!
You're right, I never really thought about the fact that free jazz is akin to non-rep art. That puts it in some kind of context, but its hard for me to imagine, and its kind of maddening to me (which may be why I called it gibberish) the notion of someone reaching trane's level and then moving into a field thats un-melodic, unrythmic, and uber-dissonant. I think he was into acid and playing at the same time when he did that (I could be wrong). Its like James Joyce, a genius but finnegan's wake?
through everyone. we just need to get out of the way..
Anyone catch the Phil Shaap introduction? If only he played more music...
I agree there is no need for insults, but calling Coltrane's late "free" music "incoherent gibberish" is similar to adherents of representational painting calling abstract painting "incomprehensible chaos." You may agree with that, but as a draughtsman myself, who appreciates both representational and abstract art, it seems provincial. I grew up a rock fan and got into jazz through "free" music; over time, I evolved to loving Coltrane's earlier period, and such melodic players as Lester Young.
If trane is not being understood it means little..he attempted to step out of comfort zones so many times...and people dont get it lolz
@bopbrother
Oh, the announcer is a British Asian, like myself, except the announcer is from a Pakistani background but went to a British school.
No, were not "snobs"(ha ha!) sorry if it comes over that way...one absorbs any accent that is local to ones environment.
That's why you can have a Sikh or Muslim with an American accent etc.
Alot of Indian folk LOVE & relate to Trane's music because he played "free", uninhibited and Trane got deep into Indian folk music & Sri Chinmoy.
He could play any music in any Key at any Tempo. jbsax
@selmansax The sugar deposits by condensation on the inside of the pads which cause the keys to stick onto the tone holes
I need more. Is there a part 3
@osensei2987 amen! his complexity is as baffling as is Miles' simplicity, it's simply,"how in the world did you come up with that!!?!"
its a pity the words are not synchronised with the video - that being said it was a fascinating look at this mans life - thanks.
Wise One, from the Crescent album
Thank you for uploading this!!!!!!! Could you tell me the date and name of this documentary? Thanks alot, really!!!!!
Where can you get brains and eggs in NYC today? This is important.
Epic video. How can I see the rest though?!?!
GOD BLESSED >JOHN COLTRANE>
this so awesome but where's the rest?
yessir!!
This is amazing and thanks for posting it... But is it just me, or is the audio a full ten seconds out of sync with the video?
@Angryjazz Not just you -- audio is really screwed up -- too bad given the great video!
@bopbrother: Um . . . he has a British accent; that's how they normally speak. It doesn't make him a snob, it just makes him . . . English. If he were a snob he'd probably have nothing to do with John Coltrane, rather than making a loving documentary on his life.
Elvin Jones said that he was enough of a believer to think Coltrane was an angel.
whats the song around 1:18?
love to coltrane, a genious
Where can we get this video? Where can we purchase it?
What is the recording at the beginning of part 2?
@front11gutter
Thanks :-)
Is that Coltrane talking at the beginning?!
Does anyone the song used between around 2:20 - 3:00?
@aaronamccoy kenny g is in nappys in comparison
who s the guy who play piano at 4:02?
McCoy Tyner
GREATEST PIANIST EVER....MCCOY TYNER OMG😱💘MT
for about ten seconds I thought McCoy Tyner was British...audio sux.
I love Coltrane but I accidentally bought the album "Expression" I think it was, and it was total crap. All free shit, completely formless bullshit. I don't know why someone who understood the language of music so well would resort to that incoherent gibberish, which is the best analogy I can think of.