John Coltrane, Music, College Term Papers.com


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John Coltrane

John Coltrane John Coltrane was born on September 23, 1926, in Hamlet, North Carolina. This particular day had important astrological significance. It was the day of the autumn equinox, one of only two days through the year where night and day are perfectly equal (Fraim 7). Shortly after his birth, Coltrane’s family moved to High Point, North Carolina. He lived in a nice neighborhood sharing a house with his mom and dad, aunt and uncle and cousin, and his grandparents, the Blairs (7). Even at an early age it was obvious that religion was important to Coltrane. He would listen to his grandfather, Reverend Blair, preach at the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church on Sunday mornings (7). When Coltrane was older he also began going to church on Tuesday nights. He played in the Community Band rehearsals under the direction of the Reverend Warren Steele. In this band he played the alto saxophone, his first instrument (9). Coltrane’s father, John Robert Coltrane, also had a passion for music. After a few drinks, he would sing country music and play the violin and ukulele(7). Coltrane’s mother had an interest in music and wanted to have a career as an opera singer. This wasn’t possible, so she sang and played the piano in church (8). With some other school friends, Coltrane helped organize a band at William Penn High School. He began to take music a little more seriously. He was able to play two instruments, started reading jazz magazines, and was practicing his instrument at all hours of the night. Students at school saw him as the biggest assett to the band and began asking him for advice (9). In 1945, Coltrane was inducted into the Navy, but he only stayed in for a year. He then began to work odd jobs until 1949. In 1949 he joined Dizzy Gillespie’s big band When Coltrane joined Dizzy Gillespie’s band, he befriended Yusef Lateef, a black Moslem (Frain 16). Lateef was a part of the band for only a short time. He sparked Coltrane’s interest in philosophy and religion. He also introduced him to authors like Kahlil Gibran and suggested he read the Koran (17). During this time Coltrane’s heroin addiction increased. Once, while on tour with Gillespie’s band, Coltrane passed out and had to be revived by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by another band member (18). He pawned items for money to buy drugs, and he would many times show up late for gigs. At a show in Canada, Coltrane didn’t even show up (19). He finally left the band in May 1950 (Wild). Although John Coltrane turned to drugs and alcohol during much of the 1950s, some positive things also happened in his life (Ressner 122). He began to focus on education in the early 1950s, particularly ejoying philosophy. He played in clubs such as Cafe Society and Joe Pitt’s Musical Bar to bring in some money (Fraim 21). Coltrane joined the Earl Bostic band in 1952. Bostic knew a great deal about the saxophone, and Coltrane benefited from his knowledge (21). He learned about fingering techniques and also Bostic’s sound which differed from most saxophonists of that time (22). After leaving Bostic’s band, Coltrane joined an old idol of his, Johnny Hodges, in 1953. Coltrane learned new styles from Hodges. He learned styles of stretching the notes, lingering, and caressing them. This was a very important time for Coltrane. He took this musical knowledge and used it in his own recordings for many years (22). Unfortunately, Coltrane’s usage of drugs worsened and Hodges had to let him go in the fall of 1954 (23). After this, Coltrane hit his low point. He played in bars to make enough money to feed hisself and his drug addiction. He even became an embarassment to his friends when he would play in certain clubs (23). It was then in 1954 that Coltrane met Naima, a Moslem (23). She had an interest in astrology and also came from a musical background. She was a good influence on Coltrane and helped him to take control of his life once again (24). Coltrane joined Miles Davis’s group in 1955. He switched from playing alto sax to tenor (Wilson D23). Coltrane began to develop his own style by combining all that he had learned from the musicians he’d worked with (Fraim 30). Coltrane left Davis’s group and went back to Philadelphia in 1956. He and Naima lived together in his mother’s house. Coltrane then realized that he had to make a decision: be a successful musician with loads of potential or be a drug addict (33). In the spring of 1957, Coltrane asked for his mother’s and Naima’s help. He’d finally made the decision that drugs and alcohol were to no longer be a part of his life. He spent four long days in his room alone. When Coltrane was finally ready to face the world, he was a completely new man (34). After conquering his addiction, Coltrane created some of his most emotional, intense music. He played Indian and African music and even some chants. One of his best albums documenting his change after his drug addiction was A Love Supreme in 1964. Some of his other famous compositions include “Giant Steps,” “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” and “Blue Train” (“Coltrane” 22). In early 1966, John Coltrane was at his highest point in his career. He had been named “Jazzman of the Year” in Down Beat magazine in 1965. A Love Supreme had also been named Record of the Year (Fraim 191). Coltrane grew confused at the type of music he began playing (191). In April 1967 Coltrane went to visit Thelonious Monk. Distressed, he explained to Monk that he didn’t understand the music he was playing. Monk just told him to play the music, don’t worry about it (198). Coltrane’s extreme stomach pains began in May of 1967. His wife Alice forced him to go to a stomach specialist who ordered him to stay in the hospital. Coltrane ignored the doctor and went home anyways (199). Throughout June and the first of July, Coltrane was in horrible pain. He got very little work done. He went to see Bob Thiele at Impulse Records on July 14. Even Thiele could see Coltrane was dying (199). On the morning of July 16, Coltrane was taken to Huntington Hospital. He died there on the Monday morning of July 17, 1967. He died at 4:00 a.m. which was his time during the day to meditate (199). During Coltrane’s short lifetime he played with many famous bands, overcame drug and alcohol abuse, discovered his spiritual side, and gave other aspiring musicians someone to look to. Even over 30 years after his death, John Coltrane’s music is making a comeback in the jazz world, and his spiritual rebirth will always be something to admire. Bibliography: Works Cited “Coltrane.” Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. 1993. Fraim, John. Spirit Catcher: The Life And Art Of John Coltrane. West Liberty: Greathouse Co., 1996. Ressner, Jeffrey. “Sax Champ.” Time 18 Sep. 1995: 122. Wild, Dave. Home page. 1 Jan.1999. 22 Mar.1999 . Wilson, John S. “Coltrane’s ‘Sheets Of Sound’.” New York Times 13 Aug. 1967: D23.

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