When Coltrane passed in 1967, Japan felt his death as keenly as the West. The extensive tour, just the year before in 1966, had been transitional for many Japanese musicians and fans. It was his only visit to the country, and during his late free period. The visit had a profound effect on John and Alice, Pharoah and the other American musicians too.
A memorial compilation album was issued pretty quickly after his death, nicely produced with a wonderful cover shot of Trane perfoming in-country. I'd wanted to know for a while what had been said in the liner notes, had OCR translated them a while back, not perfectly for sure. So just tried to make the best interpretation I could, but still being true to the original.
The famous Coltrane quote from the Japan tour of wanting to become a saint, may actually have been said in jest. But it didn't stop the creation of the California Church !
Notes
“Saint Coltrane" Jazz giant John Coltrane passed away on July 17th (1967), aged 40, which was strangely the anniversary of the death of Billie Holiday. Trane's death was so sudden too. On Friday, July 14th, at the Impulse Records office, he'd just had a meeting with producer, Bob Thiele to finalise his next record.
However, Coltrane himself must have been aware of the feelings in his body for a while. For example, Mrs Alice Coltrane knew when he began complaining of abdominal pain about four months previously, and had collapsed, vomiting blood. This had been the reason, three months previously he had stopped playing live.
Bob Thiele and Mrs. Alice Coltrane were worried, and advised him to go to hospital, but he refused to see a doctor, and possibly would have already known his fate at that time. On Sunday 16th Coltrane walked to the nearby Huntington Hospital in Huntington, Long Island, then ascended to heaven at 4 o’clock the next morning. Leaving behind Mrs. Alice and their four children, John Jr.,Ravi, Michelle, and Oran.
On July 21, at the Lutheran Church of St Peter's, in Manhattan, more than 600 friends and musicians met from 11:00 AM. Musicians involved were Albert Ayler and Ornette Coleman who dedicated their music. John Coltrane's epic "A Love Supreme" was read by Father John Gensel. It was touching. He praised God and preached his supreme love for his music, a ritual worthy of praying for the soul of the giant John Coltrane.
This was what Trane said at his press conference in Japan just a year ago, but from that moment on, Trane wanted to be a jazz saint. One holy man, John William Coltrane was certainly a man deserved to be called a holy man. He was thoughtful and full of compassion, and he had the personality of a saint. And as a musician, Trane is a true artist, but he had the harshest attitude to himself.
In 1926 he was born in North Carolina as the son of a tailor, but didn’t experience the full revelation of God until 1957, when he was a professional musician. After that his life was devoted to the spiritual application of his music.
He learnt modal techniques from Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk and how to play a few notes at the same time on his horn. He introduced many innovative techniques to the world of jazz. By adapting the music, he pioneered different forms of improvisational performance in the Garden of his God. He also played and studied with the great sitar player Ravi Shankar, adapting elements of Indian classical music to Jazz.
The passionate performances which seemed to challenge the limit of his limits, was with the legendary drummer Elvin Jones. These exchanges were perhaps the ultimate expression of Coltrane Jazz.
In 1965 he won the popular vote of Down Beat magazine, "Hall of Fame," "Jazz Man of the Year, "Jazz Record of the Year, "Tenor Sax". It was the first time in history.
He boldly threw himself into the New Jazz and made it decisive, including the "Ascension into God's heaven”. Before then, for New Jazz seekers, who sought to stop by Ornette Coleman, Trane's participation was fitting for the arrival of a jazz saint.
For that reason, John Coltrane's death is even more tragic. We will never come into contact with Coltrane’s jazz again. Fortunately, however, a great heritage remains. Many others, touched by his soul are growing up. We must warmly watch as we surpass the sadness as Trane's disciples take wings, and fly the nest. Isn't this the greatest farewell for Coltrane?
Comments
Post a Comment