Help me understand John Coltrane .... seriously.


Hi Everyone,
Listen I have a favor to ask, and those of you better educated in Jazz can help me.

I always have a tough time listening to John Coltrane. It's like he's talking a different language.
Can any of you point me to recordings I should listen to on Tidal or Quboz or whatever that set me up to better appreciate the man?


Thank you for the musical education.

Best,

E
erik_squires

Showing 4 responses by daveyf

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)

@gosta  LOL. That's not far from the truth! BUT consider this, every one of those notes was exactly on time.....
@erik_squires  When you listen to Coltrane, do you enjoy the music. If the answer is yes, then why attempt to disseminate why...if the answer is no...same point. Most folks have favorite genres and artists...and those that they totally dislike. Personally, i have a hard time with gangster RAP, but i can accept that there are plenty of people who like it..even to exclusion of all other types of music. Do I wonder if i can understand it better, and therefore enjoy it more...no. Because, I am happy enough with all of the other numerous types of music that i do enjoy...and IF a gangster RAP piece comes along that I can feel in my soul...well then that's good too. Music is like that, it either makes you want to listen more, or it does not...nothing to learn there, IMHO.