John Coltrane:A Love Supreme

Presentation byAaron Labin

John Coltrane• Career lasted only

12 years• Gained

recognition while playing with Miles Davis from ’55 to ’60

• Formed own quartet in ’60

• Died in ’67 at age 40

John Coltrane• Played with

legends– Miles Davis– Charlie Parker– Thelonious Monk– Cannonball

Adderley• Influenced by

– Stan Getz– Sidney Bechet

John Coltrane• “A Love Supreme”

was recorded in December, 1964

• Released in 1965• Remastered

edition released in 2002 as 2 CD set

John Coltrane• “A Love Supreme”

was comprised of a 4 part “suite”

• An ode to his faith and love of God

• His most famous work

John Coltrane• “Part 1:

Acknowledgement”

• Listening guide provided

• Album receives name from song with the vocal melody at 6:07

• The song you hear now

John Coltrane• “Part 2: Resolution”• Starts with a :20 bass

solo• :21 gives you a total

immersion from the band; smooth and round

• 1:45 piano solo accompanied with drum and bass

• 3:55 sax comes smoothly back; original melody repeated and improvised

• 7:19 song ends

John Coltrane• “Part 3: Pursuance”• Song starts with a 1:30

chaotic drum solo• At 1:30 sax comes in

with the melody from Part 1; the entire band incorporates

• Chord progressive piano solo at 1:55 that showcases McCoy Tyner’s talent

• Violent reintegration of sax at 4:15 that expands every high and low note on the instrument

John Coltrane• “Part 3: Pursuance”,

cont’d• 7:00 Coltrane returns

to the original melody

• 7:17 sax fades out to another drum solo

• 7:48 bass solo• 10:41 end

John Coltrane• “Part 4: Psalm”• Coincides with a

poem he wrote to God

• Coltrane said “I recited the poem to God through my saxophone”

• Song starts with sax smoother than silk; drums and piano accompany

• 1:45 bass joins in

John Coltrane• “Part 4: Psalm”,

cont’d• 2:55 sax begins to

touch on higher range

• Time is only kept by cymbals and piano

• 6:41 sax and piano dissolve and only drum is left

• 7:01 end

John Coltrane

“A Love Supreme”