Jazz Journal in November 1966 published a contemporary review of John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman. It was a combined piece from two separate articles, previously published in the Saturday Review as 'Coltrane Up To Date' and 'Coleman in Stockholm'. It must be too much of a coincidence, but every mid to late 60s article and critical review I uncover is wholly supportive of John Coltrane's later work and his followers' in the New Thing/New Music/Avant-Garde/Free Jazz. And they all mention that not everyone was as appreciative of this controversial music. I guess these naysayers must've written in mainstream newspapers, not in dedicated Jazz journals. There are some really interesting points made, especially in the Coltrane review. For example I haven't read anywhere about the nasty journalistic in-fight in relation to Black Nationalism; Ascension being a truly contemporary performance and communal rite; an incredibly bold statement about Coltrane's m...
Jamo Spingal