Jazz for aficionados

@stuartk, @audio-b-dog,

in the late 60’s, 70’s there was an intensified interest in spirituality among musicians, Jazz and otherwise.

R. Thompson, P. Townshend: Sufism.

Beatles: Yoga (TM)

Santana, J. McLaughlin: Yoga

W. Shorter, H. Hancock, S. Cowell and many more: Buddhism

McCoy Tyner and others: Islam

Some, like Coltrane, seemed not to adhere to any single path.

You might say spirituality was "in the air" in that era. It certainly affected me and a number of my friends in high school. 

I recall opening the gatefold to Caravanserai and encountering a quote by Paramahansa Yogananda before I’d even become aware of his famous autobiography. And of course Mahavishnu Orchestra album and tune titles were an expression of the same. Spiritual themes were common in the music of The Incredible String Band, G. Harrison, Cat Stevens, , the Who, Donovan, etc. It wasn’t until a few years later that I got into Jazz and started noticing this same trend. I guess "My Goals Beyond" was probably the first for me, after Mahavishnu.

I couldn’t have written it any better myself. It was Mike Shrieve the original Santana drummer who introduced Carlos to Coletrane, and the rest is history. I have the Caravanserai lp as well and also the Carlos Santana · Mahavishnu John McLaughlin - Love Devotion Surrender lp .

Check out the roughly made Beatles documentary of their experiences with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who developed TM.

Many years ago I had an opportunity to become part of a medical study at Morehouse College of Medicine to take TM, totally free and all they wanted to do was monitor my blood pressure and see if TM would lower your blood pressure. It was one of the best classes I’d ever had the opportunity to take.

By the time I was 18 I had mastered about 10 Hatha Yoga Asanas  (poses/stretches). But that was a LONG time ago...

Lonnie Liston Smith · The Cosmic Echoes - Meditations 1976

@tyray, Yes, Lonnie Liston Smith is on the Karma album. I read a bit about Pharoah Sanders, and it said that after Coltrane died he had trouble finding a group of musicians who could play the type of sound he wanted. I guess he would refer to it as spiritual.

@stuartk, I think I share in all those musicians spiritual connection to the music, and I feel it when they play. But I don't share in any scripture or liturgy. If I were to rewrite "The Creator Has a Master Plan," I would substitute "She" for "He" in regards to the Creator. I think music at its essence is spirituality, and I think that's why I talk about being joyous when I listen to certain music. 

There is music that appeals to my intellect, and that's a whole different matter. I enjoy it and often get lost in it, but it does not make me feel joyous. 

@curiousjim I think that Esperanza Spalding is someone to watch on the bass. I saw her in a Herbie Hancock band, and although I was at the Hollywood Bowl and a fair distance from the stage and she was standing at the back of a lot of musicians, she was electric and I couldn't take my eyes off her hands. I felt like they were magical. The little I read about her, it sounds as if she were a savant, like many of the great musicians. Playing piano at three, performing at a very young age. If I could live my life over, I would want to have musical talent. Writing prose is not at all joyous. It's a lot of work. I was also a painter until my back gave out, and painting was totally joyous because I never knew what I was going to do next. I loved getting lost in a painting. 

@curiousjim,

Yep, Christian McBride for a young lion, is holding down the traditions of Jazz. I got another ' young cub' for you.

Chief Adjuah aka Christian Scott - West of the West

Chief Adjuah (Christian Scott) | Max Mucha | Elé Howell |Cecil Alexander| Morgan Guerin | Richard Howell

@audio-b-dog 

I don’t view spirituality as belonging exclusively to any particular path but I don’t view it as exclusively feminine, either. Just because patriarchy has had a poisonous  impact upon religion doesn’t mean there isn’t a healthy masculine aspect to spirituality. Be careful you don’t throw the baby out with the bath water!

@tyray 

My wife still does Hatha Yoga every day but it’s a very long time since I did.

+1 @audio-b-dog, 

Esperanza Spalding is SPECIAL indeed. Although she doesn't think so, I think she is in a class - all her own.