I think that one needs to be spiritually "thirsty" to understand Coltrane and of course be experienced in jazz. I did like
Miles Davis from my esrly years of listening to jazz, but did not like at the beginning Coltrane. Now I can deeply enjoy and understand his music. By the way many following artists were essentially influenced by Coltrane including Charles Lloyd.
Comparing Coltrane with Miles, I think that Davis still was essentially more wide and has essentially contributed in generating a number of other outstanding jazz artists. Both were non-odinary talents. |
@erik,
Oh, yeah, I heard of Jarrett. But, thanks for reminding me. I have to cue up some recordings of him, too.
Also, The Coltrane 'Ballads' was pretty good.
What would you experts recommend next?
Bob |
A brief history of Buddhism via John Coltrane's Music
My Favorite Things
Monkey Mind
Truth, is it not so whether we agree or not, approve or not, enjoy or not?
But how and by whom is truth defined?
A Love Supreme
When the student is ready the teacher appears.
Om, Part I & Part II
Satori
Nirvana
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@garebear
Dead & Co 11/6/19 played a bit of A Love Supreme within Dark Star. Have heard some of My Favorite Things sandwiched in elsewhere along the way in the past also.
OP
One never knows when, or if, lightening will strike. Enjoy the ride! Listened to the Beatles Revolution #9 since it first came out, only really 'got it' the last few years, yet Ornette Coleman's Free Jazz on first listen while driving late '80's. Sat parked in the driveway nearly 15 min to learn the name of the artist and piece.
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rwmeditz
Absolutely! Big fan of Ornette Coleman. I would like to think that most of us have sat in that parked spot lamenting over artist/track.
Happy Listening! |
If Jazz music is improvised...uhh..
And no two solos are alike...
Your going to be doing alot of figuring out.
Its not meant to be "figured out".
If your not connecting in any way now after listening...move on.
Have you figured out Abba yet? |
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I'm not a big jazz fan so perhaps I shouldn't even comment here. I have listened to Coltraine and I don't "get" him either. I respect him for his creativity but he's just not my cup of tea. I have an issue with horns in general. I find trumpets waaaay to blarey (blary?) for my taste. Whether it's Miles or Satchmo who are both great artists, I just have to pass. I also have a hard time with trombones. Now saxaphone to me is a great instrument! It's much smoother and throatier than trumpet or trombone. I guess probably because it's a wind instrument. So while I respect great musicianship, jazz with horns is not my thing. I would much rather listen to piano or guitar with some sax thrown in for good measure.
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My girlfriend I was dating in the late 80s upon hearing A Love Supreme said 'it sounds like they locked a serial killer in a room with a flock of geese and a large mallet'. I'm still not sure if that meant she got it or not. |
I totally respect this question and the willingness to explore some Coltrane because one loves music. This might be one of the more random responses out there but... Through my teens (in the 1990's) I loved skateboarding and spent a lot of my youth engaging in enjoying it as a creative outlet. At the time most music in skate videos was punk, alternative, thrash etc then there was this one clip on a movie where this professional skateboarder was cruising along to a tune by Red Garland and John Coltrane. At first I didn't like it then after watching a couple more times it made perfect sense, the free flowing music with the free flowing activity. I've listened to Jazz ever since and now have quite a few Jazz records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gizM-PuVnY0To me it's more of a feeling. I know nothing about music really other than I know I like listening to a lot of it. With Jazz it's more visuals in my head and, like I say - a feeling I get. Like when I listen to the Coltrane track 'out of this world' (for example) it feels kind of like a meditation on life where I can imagine ordinary people doing what they do somewhere say like New York city with fast cuts to the imagery. Keep in mind that track does get a bit wild at points so might not be everyone's cup of tea. Anyway perhaps that is a little too random. Anyway, I really hope you find some stuff you like and no big deal if you don't really. Music is so subjective. Like many others have probably said 'kind of blue' by Miles Davis is an amazing starting point into Jazz. I actually like the trumpet more than the sax on the whole but for some reason I find Coltrane's music comforting. All the best! |
I have
McCoy Tyner and
Keith Jarrett too LOL . |
Miles Davis and John Coltrane both started with standard Jazz format with little improvisation involved. When they began to really establish their own identities, the really went their own ways. I, like many loved the late fifties, early sixties Jazz music. Coltrane transitioned slowly into a monster with his own style and form. Same for Miles. His work with Evans was outstanding. Bitches Brew blew most people away at first listen. People said "what the ??!!!???" is this? at first. MIles was influenced seriously by the Lady in his life at that time.
So, in my opinion, when people want to transition into Jazz, they must be made to understand that Many Jazz musician like Rock, Pop, etc. First established themselves with the standard format (so they could get paid, feed their families and pay bills) before going their own way after they had a firm fan base.
While in College becoming an Engineer, I took art and music classes. One class was a John Coltrane Class. Was not an easy "A". Trying to interpret his music and style was like trying to interpret painters. Some painters I still don't get. Some Coltrane I just didn't get. Still got the "A". Great teacher also.
But, if everyone looked the same, sounded the same, dressed the same, talked the same, etc. This would be a very boring world.
The fifties and sixties Jazz was to me outstanding. The seventies, it felt like it became more formatted (moving towards "smooth Jazz" format, not real Jazz to me.), and also serious drugs and the desire to establish their own identity came forward. Still, some great Jazz came from the seventies.
enjoy
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Coltrane gave me an appreciation for Miles.
I saw Davis play towards the end of his career as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. Good lord was he awful! I swore i would never listen to anything related to Miles again. EVER!
Fast forward to 2015: a friend sold me about 6 crates of vinyl for $50.00 USD. In the crates were some miles and coltrane. Including "Kinda Blue" (original Columbia pressing on the 'eye dot' logo). I thought "what the hell?" I came away OMG!
The clarity, enunciation, fluidity was there. It made me realize what i had missed all these years. This made me dive into Coltrane a little more. He does take a little effort, but the journey is well worth the trip. |
OR listen to the Lucinda Williams song that says "Just play me John Coltrane"
A Love Supreme is a masterpiece.
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sometimes i think John Coltranes spirit was one of pain and suffering. I have enough pain and suffering to deal with day in and day out than to put myself through it when I am trying to relax and enjoy. His best music is the early stuff.
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Gaining an appreciation for Coltrane is like gaining an appreciation for Charles Mingus, Yusef Lateef, Charlie Parker or Puccini operas. Set the CD to "play," sit back and listen over and over, and soon the understanding will click in.
Frank |
@oregonpapa ,
I am inclined to agree with you. Sometimes, complete immersion yields a greater understanding.
But,
Sometimes the dissonant/discordant sounds force me to flee the room or switch to Mozart.
B |
gdnrbob ... A friend of mine is an ex-studio musician (guitar). He loves opera. I couldn’t stand opera and I told him that it sounded like an old fat lady singing. He told me to buy a tape of a Puccini opera and play it in my car constantly. He said that opera is a lot like jazz, in that, appreciating it is a learned experience. Sure enough, eventually, I got into opera. On the dissonant/discordant sounds, one thing that helps, is while listening to it, (Coltrane’s Sheets of Sound, for instance), is to realize that he is in complete control of his instrument at all times. Then comes the appreciation for the talent. Then comes the appreciation for the music. It is the same thing for the wonderful control of a great soprano voice like Renata Tebaldi, Rita Streich, or Victoria de Los Angeles et al.
There are times while listening to a beautiful aria that tears come to the eyes. Humans are totally amazing.
Frank |
"Madam Butterfly"is the most moving piece ever written .
In any genre .
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- "Madame Butterfly" is the most moving piece ever written.
- In any genre."
It surely is among the best ever. I have a number of renditions, including my favorite which happens to be on an old London mono LP that I found at a thrift store many years ago. Every time I listen to it, I get goosebumps and it moves me to tears. Frank |
