|
TITLE:
A Love Supreme
ARTIST:
John Coltrane
PERSONNEL: John Coltrane(ts), McCoy Tyner(p), Jimmy
Garrison(b), Elvin Jones(d).
TRACK LISTING:
1. Part 1: Acknowledgment
2. Part 2: Resolution
3. Part 3: Pursuance
4. Part 4: Psalm
Disc Two, Deluxe Edition
only:
1. Introduction (Live)
2. Acknowledgement (Live)
3. Resolution (Live)
4. Pursuance (Live)
5. Psalm (Live)
6. Resolution (Alt. Take)
7. Resolution (Breakdown)
8. Acknowledgement (Alt. Take)
9. Acknowledgement (Alt. Take)
Original Release Date: 1965
|
A Love Supreme has always been John Coltrane's
most popular album, occupying a special place in listener's
hearts since the day it was released. Thus it should come
as no surprise that this legendary album achieved Gold status
this week, according to the Recording Industry Association
of America. This is the first Coltrane recording to receive
this honor, and it speaks well of the lasting influence of
Coltrane and his music on a whole new generation of listeners.
This is wonderful news as we begin 2001, the year that will
mark, on September 23, the 75th anniversay of Coltrane's birth.
A Love Supreme was the culmination of a period of
restlessness and searching for Coltrane, both in his personal
and professional lives. Following his release from the Miles
Davis Quintet in 1956, Coltrane experienced a period of depression,
followed by what he called "a spiritual awakening".
Following intense meditation and prayer, Coltrane gave up
drinking, smoking, and his destructive drug habit. By the
spring of 1957, Coltrane was back in form and worked briefly
with Thelonius Monk, a period that he later stated influenced
him greatly. When he returned to playing with Miles on the
classic Kind of Blue
album he was already previewing the modal jazz that would
become his predominant style, as well as the famous "sheets
of sound" which he unleashed on his own recording My
Favorite Things.
During the seven year period from 1957 to 1964, Coltrane
began to become interested in nonwestern music and philosophy.
He explored West African music as well as the music of India.
Though he had considered himself a Christian all his life,
he began to read books about Hinduism, Islam, science, astrology,
yoga, and African history.
He began to have dreams in which he believed that God revealed
various musical works and concepts to him. In the winter of
1964, A Love Supreme was revealed to Coltrane, in its
entirety, through such a dream. He and his quartet recorded
the work in December of 1964 in the same order that the tracks
are programmed on the recording.
|
The suite begins with "Acknowledgment"--after
a brief invocation Garrison's bass begins the "Love
Supreme" figure, followed by Coltrane's declamatory
statements which seem to offer a sermon. His playing is
incredibly confident and robust, offering the kind of bold
and powerful statement not heard since Louis Armstrong's
early recordings. He develops the material rhythmically
and moves a series of notes through a modular cycle or repetition,
punctuating it with excursions into the altissimo range,
finally bursting into a climax of ecstatic celebration.
This is followed with the intonation of the mantra, "A
Love Supreme", first on tenor sax, then finally in
voice.
"Resolution" begins with Coltrane's introduction
of the theme, followed by a series of variations that develop
in a manner that has more in common with the Indian raga
than with the traditional jazz solo development. McCoy Tyner
plays an extended and explosive solo that demonstrates his
sheer energy and harmonic concentration, not to mention
the way he clearly influenced many jazz pianists at the
time and afterward. Jones is in high gear also, kicking
both Tyner and Coltrane along with constant explosions and
commentary. Coltrane returns for another solo before restating
the theme and bringing the section to its conclusion.
The final sections, "Pursuance" and "Psalm"
are presented without interruption. "Pursuance"
begins with a drum solo from Jones that constantly shifts
pulse and rhythm. All of the quartet members solo, each
one testifying fiercely personal statements of faith and
spiritual searching. Garrison finishes the section out with
his solo before the majestic "Psalm" begins with
Coltrane playing the words to his poem "A Love Supreme"
(which are found on the album sleeve) on his saxophone.
The piece is a moving statement, as is Coltrane's instrumental
representation of the words he had written
The 2CD deluxe edition includes a live rendition of the
complete suite as well as several outtakes that give insight
into the recording of this masterpiece. In addition, it
has been remastered.
 The
2CD Deluxe Edition includes a live rendition
of the complete suite as well as several outtakes
that give insight into the recording of this masterpiece.
In addition, it has been remastered.
|
 The
Desert Island Discs edition is the original album
(track listing as noted above) remastered.
|
|
