Help me understand John Coltrane .... seriously.

I’m not understanding this reasoning at all...what are you guys talking about..."for the beginner" or.."too advanced in depth and nature, "talking a different language"
....what the heck does that all mean....when we are talking about music!

Music, and John Coltrane could play some great music, is what makes the listener enjoy the experience of listening. Personally, ALL music allows me to enjoy the experience...and that is what i think the great players, like John Coltrane could accomplish. So, IMO, there is NOTHING to understand when you listen to John Coltrane, or any other good-great musician, you will enjoy the experience. If you don’t enjoy it, that doesn’t mean you don’t understand it...it just means you don’t like it...and there’s nothing wrong in that!

I hope this makes sense coming from an ex-pro musician.:0)

skyscraper

Right On! MD quickly divided his fans with Bitches Brew. We were expecting more Bop/Hard Bop instead of electric/fusion elements.

Coltrane and Davis were very much ahead of their time to report the least. In their respective lifetimes, both were students of past events, that shaped Modal music.  

Happy Listening!

daveyf

Makes perfect sense. JC was not afraid to charter different territories. 
Quite unique and/or avant garde at various stages during his short lifetime on Earth.

Happy Listening!

As a beatnik, I listen to jazz a lot. I also smoke pot and own a Bonneville ( I have beret someplace). Note that jazz as an astonishing art form is less popular than polka so hey...if you don't get it that's OK as most people don't, a thing I'm used to..."Kind of Blue" is relatively accessible to many brains...modal...try that maybe. 

Maybe your brain just don’t like the sound of a screaming saxophone playing hundred thousand notes in the right or left channel for hours... :-) Personally prefer Ben Webster. Great live recordings.