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
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



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.


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.
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