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 8 responses by mapman

I’m still not a big fan of Bitches Brew,  but at the same time I get why historically it is such a famous landmark recording.  
The thing I always find interesting about John Coltrane at his best is he does not play the notes you would expect him to play. He is always doodling/improvising with the material. He goes off on riffs with his sax much the same way say an Eddie Van Halen would later go off with his guitar, often, but not always, with great success.
Maybe he is just not your cup of tea Eric. Just because he is renowned and influential does not mean everybody loves his music.


I agree that most Coltrane is not an easy listen. Lot’s of other jazz for that.


Yes those are more accessible Coltrane albums as is even Giant Steps and Blue Train but these alone are limited as a tool to "get" John Coltrane.

A good package for that is the "Live at the Village Vanguard" set where you get multiple and varied takes on the same classic Coltrane tunes on different nights to soak in and process.
They were both "free spirits",  way out there for their time, were heavily influenced by drugs and were driven to keep playing and pushing boundaries no matter what, not always successfully.


You actually got it. He does speak a different language. The fun part is figuring it out.

I’d start with "A Love Supreme". The concept provides the best chance for Coltrane to register sooner rather than later.