John Coltrane

John William Coltrane was famous a saxophonist of Jazz, Compositeur and American chief of formation , born with Hamlet, in North Carolina, the September 23rd 1926 and died with Huntington, New York, the July 17th 1967. It was, after Charlie Parker in the Années 1940 and 1950, considered as the most revolutionary saxophonist and most influential in jazz, leader of the current avant-gardist in the Années 1960, and undoubtedly one of largest the musicians and one of the Art the most influential ists of the history of the music.

As saxophonist, Coltrane always sought to be exceeded on all the plans. It considered its music like a spiritual search , pretense to want to reach with the divine one. On the technical plan, it explored novel modes of expression, seeking new sonorities, new stamps and new ways of extending the range and the dynamics of its instrument. On the stylistic level, he managed to widen the horizons of the development set of themes and harmonic by combining the improvisation with the heat of the stamp, dynamics and the rate/rhythm. He could push well the extent of his instrument beyond the normal limits, as well in the sound depth of the low registers as in the emotional tops reached in the acute ones. Through its music, he wanted to communicate to his public the desire to exceed himself in order to carry out the full potential of his capacities.

Its childhood and its youth

John Coltrane is the son of Alice Blair and John Robert Coltrane. His/her father was tailor and musician amateur. He could play of the Violon and the Ukulélé. His/her mother, who had studied the music and teaching in Livingston College, sang and played of the Piano in the choral society of its father, a reverend of the African Église episcopal methodist Zion. When the small John reaches his three years, its family settles in High Point, where it passes all his childhood. At the twelve years age, it is tested by the death of his father, followed that of his grandfather, the reverend Blair, then of that of his uncle. Following these tragedies blows dealt by fate, his/her mother is forced to seek an employment. John, as for him, enters the Community whole of the reverend Steele as a clarinettist. The same year, it completes its elementary studies and between at the secondary school. In 1942, at the 15 years age, it plays of the music in the whole of its school, initially with the Clarinette, then with the Saxophone viola.

The May 31st 1943, it finishes its secondary studies and obtains its diploma. The June 11th, it moves with Philadelphia in order to continue off its studies with the Orenstein School Music , where it receives the teaching of Mike Guerra. To provide for its needs, he works in a sugar refinery. At seventeen years, with an already thorough musical formation, it enters to the Granoff Studios to perfect its formation there.

In 1944, Coltrane leaves its preceding employment to work in a factory of food products. The same year, its mother and her cousin Mary (who inspired to him, later, a composition) join it in Philadelphia. In 1945, eighteen years old, it makes its first appearance on the scene of the jazz, with the viola, in the great whole of Jimmy Johnson. The same year, it is mobilized and must make its military service. One sends it to Hawaii, where he plays of the clarinet in the whole of the American Navy. It is there that it makes its first session of recording. In June 1945, having obtained its leave of the Navy, it returns to Philadelphia and joint to the whole of Joe Webb, with the viola.

Its beginnings in the professional world

At beginning of 1947, Coltrane plays some time of the viola with the whole of King Kolax, then it joint with the group of Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson with the tenor, instrument of which it plays for the first time. A voyage in California with this unit gives the opportunity to him to make the ox with Charlie Parker.

In 1948, Coltrane goes back to the viola, in the whole of Jimmy Heath. It then starts to consume Drogue S. the following year, it once works with Bud Powell, in New York, then, in company of Jimmy Heath, it joint with the great whole of Dizzy Gillespie, in which it plays of the viola while continuing to be exerted with the tenor. In May 1950, Gillespie dissolves its great unit and form a reduced group, with Coltrane with the viola and the tenor. In 1951, Coltrane finds Charlie Parker. There will remain of this meeting only one photograph. In May, it leaves the group of Gillespie definitively.

Of return to Philadelphia, he plays with various groups and makes the bars to provide for its needs while he continues his formation with the Granoff . It ends up joining the whole of the altist of Rhythm and blues Earl Bostic, with which there will remain only some time. A round of the whole of Bostic in California gives to Coltrane the opportunity to become acquainted with Eric Dolphy, a meeting which had a determining importance in its life. Thereafter, he plays with Miles Davis and Sony Rollins with the Audubon Ballroom of New York. At that time, John consumes alcohol and takes drugs more than ever, with heroin mainly. Under the influence of the saxophonist Yusef Lateef, whom it met in Philadelphia, it is interested in the Philosophie and the Spiritualité Orient ales.

In 1953, Coltrane joint with the whole of its first idol, the altist ellingtonien Johnny Hodges. The following year, in June, it meets his future wife, Juanita Grubbs. This one is converted with Islam and, for this reason, renamed Naïma.

The fall and spiritual awakening

Although one finds recordings of Coltrane going back to 1946, its career discographic extends in fact over one twelve years period, of 1955 with 1967, period lasting which it reorganized the jazz modern and influenced generations of musicians.

July 2nd, 1955, Coltrane leaves the group of Hodges, probably because of its problems of drug and alcohol. At the beginning of October 1955, it receives a call of the trumpet player Miles Davis, which was on the point of forming new a Quintette.

There was thus now Trane with the saxophone, Philly Joe with the battery, Red Garland with the piano, Paul Chambers with low, and me with the trumpet. And more quickly than I could not have imagined it, the music which we made together became incredible. They was so good which that gave me of the shivers, as with the public. Shit, it very quickly became alarming, so much that I gripped to ensure me that I was well there. Shortly after that Trane and me we are put to play together, the critic Whitney Balliett wrote that Coltrane had “a dry tone not surfaced which emphasizes Davis, like a coarse mounting for a beautiful stone”. Very quickly, Trane became much more than that. It transformed itself into diamond. I knew it, as all those which heard it|Miles Davis with Quincy Troop|The Autobiography p. 209 (1989)

October 3rd, 1955, Coltrane marries Naima and enters the Miles Davis Quintet . This first traditional quintet, whose existence was short, produced memorable recordings (like 'Round Butt Midnight , before being dissolved in next April).

In spring 1956, Coltrane becomes acquainted with the pianist McCoy Tyner with Philadelphia. In June, he moves in New York with his wife and his daughter-in-law, Antonia. This last door, like his/her mother, a Moslem first name, that of Saida (or Syeeda , in English).

In 1957, because of its problems of alcohol and drug, Miles replaces John Coltrane by Sony Rollins. Coltrane thus turns over to live in his/her mother, with her family, in Philadelphia. In the notes of small pocket of has Coils Supreme , that it signs itself, Coltrane precise that with course of the year 1957, I made the experiment, thanks to God, of a spiritual awakening which led me to a richer life, more filled, more productive. At that time, I humbly asked that the means and the privilege to make be given to me people happy through the music.

In full form and perfectly given, it signs a contract with Prestige Records. In July, he works with Thelonious Monk with the Five Spot Coffee of New York. It is following this collaboration with the musical genius which was Monk that Coltrane started to develop its style of characteristic dense play, making break with any pace on its listeners of the torrents of interlaced and convoluted notes; a style that the famous criticism of jazz Will go Gitler calls, with accuracy, tablecloths of sounds (sheets off sounds, in English).

August 23rd, 1957, John, Naima and Saida move in an apartment close to Central Park West, in Manhattan. The December 25th, Coltrane finds the group of Miles Davis, then, the following year, signs a contract of recording with Atlantic Records.

After having recorded chief-of works Milestones and Kind off Blue , with Miles Davis Sextet, it records the vertiginous Giant Steps , its first album as a leader on the Atlantic label. In 1960, it becomes acquainted with the pianist Alice McLeod in a reception with Detroit. In March, it leaves in round in Europe with Miles Davis. Its revolutionary style is extremely badly accepted there, it is made whistle at the time of a concert to the Olympia of Paris. It is in Baltimore, in April, that Coltrane officiates for the last time within the group of Miles Davis.

It forms then its clean Quartette, with Steve Davis in the double bass, Steve Kuhn with the piano and Pete LaRoca with the battery. The latter are quickly replaced by McCoy Tyner with the piano and Elvin Jones with the battery. To the autumn, Reggie Workman comes to replace Steve Davis with the double bass.

In addition to Giant Steps , it records for the label Atlantic several discs, all considered as the quintessence of the art coltranien, of which My Favorite Things , and Olé with Eric Dolphy whose Hispanic influences evoke the album of Miles Davis and Gil Evans, Sketches off Spain .

At that time, he discovers the Soprano saxophone of which he likes the beauty of the stamp. He will admit later that this discovery will modify its design of the Saxophone tenor, helping it to explore all the extent of the instrument.

The Master of the avant-garde

During the last period of its career, Coltrane posts an interest growing for the Free jazz, whose Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry is the principal representatives at the end of the years 1950. Thereafter, it will appear like one of the spiritual fathers of this movement which falls under the social revolution and policy that the the United States know at the beginning of the Années 1960.

In 1961, Coltrane signs a contract of decisive recording with Impulse! which begin with the recording from the album Africa/Brass , with an orchestra widened on arrangements of McCoy Tyner and Eric Dolphy. The producer of the label records then the group of Coltrane at the Vanguard Village of 1st at November 5th. He is accompanied there once again by Eric Dolphy but also of Ahmed Abdul-Malik, the bass player of Monk, which plays of will tampura on the piece India . In these splendid performances, Coltrane reveals all its power, in particular in a history version river of Chasin' the Trane .

Shortly after these concerts, Coltrane goes to Europe, company of Eric Dolphy, McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman and Elvin Jones, where it receives a definitely better reception than at the time of his preceding stay with Miles Davis.

April 11th 1962 take place the first recordings ( The Inch WORM and Big Nick ) of the classic four-bit byte composed of McCoy Tyner with the Piano, Jimmy Garrison with the low and Elvin Jones with the battery. The album Coltrane published by Pulse! is consisted of the material recorded at these first meetings, with in particular a remarkable version of the standard Out Of This World .

At the time, I was in full crisis. I made an idiocy. I was not satisfied with my mouth, I gave it to repair but it returned rotten. That discouraged me because I could not obtain certain effects more - this faster species of tricks only I tried to reach - and I was to limit me. (...) It was so clear that I was unable to play. As soon as I started to play, I could hear the difference and that discouraged me. But at the end of approximately one year, I had forgotten|John Coltrane|Discussion with Frank Kofsky of the summer 1966

Coltrane records on September 26th, 1962 an album in company of Duke Ellington where it returns to certain an orthodoxy in its style. The album Ballads , one of its larger sales, recorded at the same period at the request of Bob Thiele confirms this movement.

These ballades which left were completely those which I appreciated at the time. I chose them. It was as something which was hidden in my spirit, since my youth undoubtedly, and I needed to play them. It arrived at one moment when my confidence in my instrument had dropped, I needed to make the vacuum|John Coltrane|Discussion with Frank Kofsky of the summer 1966

In November, new the Quartette goes in Europe for the first time.

In March 1963, it records a new album in company of Johnny Hartmann, a singer of jazz, in the prolongation of its two preceding albums studio.

At the summer 1963, it leaves its household with Naima and moves in with Alice McLeod. The September 15th, four black young girls are killed in an bomb attack on the church Baptist of the 16th street with Birmingham (Alabama). Following this tragedy, Coltrane records, the November 18th, the part Alabama in memory of the assassinated children.

In April 1964, Coltrane renews its contract with Impulse! Records then records Crescent , one of the most succeeded albums of all its career. The June 29th, Eric Dolphy dies, with Berlin, in Germany, of the continuations of complications diabetics. The mother of Eric makes gift of the low clarinet of her son with John Coltrane. The August 26th, Alice gives birth to their first wire, John Coltrane Jr. Their second will be born the August 6th from the following year. They will baptize it Ravi, according to the name of the sitarist and Hindu spiritual leader Ravi Shankar, whose Coltrane admires the music. In November, the latter meet in New York.

The December 9th 1964, the John Coltrane Quartet records the masterpiece has Coils Supreme ( a Supreme Love ), regarded as one of the most important albums of the history of the jazz. The album meets an immediate business success, definitively making of Coltrane the leader of the modern jazz. Its impact largely exceeds the only universe of the jazz.

In June 1965, Coltrane records Ascension in company of young musicians coming from the free like archie Shepp or Pharoah Sanders, which will integrate the regular group of Coltrane in the weeks which will follow.

That helps me. That helps me to remain alive per moments because physically, the rate/rhythm to which I live is so hard and I took weight, it sometimes became a little hard physically. I like to have somebody beside me when I cannot obtain this force any more. I like to have this force in the group, in any event. And Pharoah is very strong in its spirit and will be it still. It is the kind of thing which I like|John Coltrane in connection with Pharoah Sanders|Discussion with Frank Kofsky of the summer 1966

In December 1965, McCoy Tyner leaves the group, dissatisfied new orientation of the music of Coltrane. It will be replaced by Alice McLeod. It is followed shortly after by Elvin Jones in 1966, following the arrival of the beater Rashied Ali. The two pillars of sound classic four-bit byte will explain their departure by similar reasons: in dissension with the new musical orientations of their leader, turned more and more towards the free jazz, they leave the group with the reason which they were not intended any more to play.

May 28th, 1966, the new formation is recorded at the Vanguard Village. The album Live At The Village Vanguard Again! presents two known titles of the repertory of Coltrane ( Naima and My Favorite Things ), but in versions extremely different from those from preceding the quartet, leaving critical and public vis-a-vis a certain incomprehension.

From July 8th to 24th, the group leaves to Japan to carry out a round where the reception reserved for their music is definitely more favorable than to the United States. The concerts of the July 11th and 22nd 1966 will be published after the death of the saxophonist under the title of Live In Japan .

In August, John marries Alice McLeod, divorcing at the same time Naima, which had not given him children.

February 15th, 1967, Coltrane finds the ways of the studio in quartet (without Pharoah Sanders) and records pieces which will leave for the majority in 1995 on Stellar Regions . February 22nd, Coltrane returns in studio in company of Rashied Ali to produce a series of duets, published in 1974 pennies the title of Interstellar Space : Coltrane benefits from the harmonic absence of context to explore new ways in term of improvisation, including/understanding even atonality.

Expression , the last album thought like such of alive sound, was recorded during this period. He will ask Nat Hentoff not to write notes of small pocket, specifying that “ the music was to speak about itself. ”

The March 19th 1967, Alice and John have a third wire, which they baptize Oran.

April 23rd, the group of Coltrane occurs twice with the Olatunji Center off African Culture , located on the 125ère street at Harlem, which had opened its doors on March 27th. Coltrane is the first to be occurred there. The first of the two concerts, which constitutes the ultimate Live recording of the saxophonist, was published by Impulse! in 2001.

May 7th, to Famous Ballroom of Baltimore, Coltrane gives what proves to be its last concert. The concerts announced then are cancelled because of the declining health of Coltrane.

In May, Coltrane is taken of an intense pain in the area of the stomach whereas it returns visit to his mother. From return to New York, it passes a Biopsie, but is not made treat. According to his wife, Coltrane would have disallowed the proposals for an operation of the doctors, whose chances of success were weak. It spends its days to réécouter its last meetings of recording.

July 14th, it meets its producer to choose the material of what will become its first posthumous album, Expression . Two days later, to the early hours of the morning, it is led urgently to the hospital. The July 17th, John Coltrane dies at four o'clock in the morning of a cancer of the liver.

At the time of its funerals, on July 21st, the formations of Albert Ayler and Ornette Coleman pay an ultimate homage to the saxophonist.

Discography

John Coltrane

With Miles Davis

With Thelonious Monk

  • 1957 : Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane

  • 1957: Thelonious Monk four-bit byte with John Coltrane At Carnegie Hall

Principal collaborations

In chronological order:

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