John Coltrane and the Evolution of “My Favorite Things”

Found this great thesis about John Coltrane. You might want to read all about it here.

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John Coltrane – Naima (1965)

I love this laid-back performance by John Coltrane of Naima. Seven minutes of pure joy. This piece first appeared in his album, Giant Steps, and is composed and named after his then wife, Naima Grubb. If you listen to Giant Steps, it will really take you to a journey, where Trane’s mastery of the saxophone is the story, and his music a great narrator of his life.

A review of his album from Amazon.com:

Released in January 1960, John Coltrane’s first album devoted entirely to his own compositions confirmed his towering command of tenor saxophone and his emerging power as a composer. Apprenticeships with Dizzy, Miles, and Monk had helped focus his furious, expansive solos, and his stamina and underlying sense of harmonic adventure brought Coltrane, at 33, to a new cusp–the polytonal “sheets of sound” that distinguished his marathon solos were offset by interludes of subtle, concise lyricism, embodied here in the tender “Naima.” That classic ballad is a calm refuge from the ecstatic, high-speed runs that spark the set’s up-tempo climaxes, which begin with the opening title song, itself a cornerstone of modern jazz composition. This exemplary reissue benefits from eight alternate takes of the original album’s seven stellar tracks, excellent remastering of the original tapes, and an expanded annotation.

I love watching this not only because it’s a rare feat to be able to witness the master at work; it’s because I feel like I’m being pulled into a vortex. John Coltrane practices great restraint while still portraying passion. The smoky room, the sweat on their faces, the mad, wicked fingers – it seemed like time stopped altogether to listen to John Coltrane reach the apex; it’s very, very exhilarating. And that kind of high is something you don’t get from ordinary things.

I also love Naima because the Trane takes his time, and even lets McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums) tell their own story, weaving their own rhythms and tunes to Trane’s.

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And because I can’t express my love for Naima any more than I already did, you might want to go over here, where different interpretations for one of the Trane’s greatest pieces ever are explored and discussed.

Like Sonny: The Story of Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane (2007)

Last year was John Coltrane’s 40th death anniversary. I thought I’d repost this documentary that was made in honor of the late Trane and the enigmatic Rollins today, since we’re remembering another year that John Coltrane is not with us anymore.

From this site:

It was forty years ago today that John Coltrane died, yet his influence remains profound. A new film by Bret Primack, “Like Sonny” — part six of the ongoing Sonny Rollins Podcast series — celebrates the life and music of this remarkable creator by detailing the story of Trane’s unique friendship with Rollins. The film’s title is from a song Coltrane wrote about Rollins, taking the melody from a phrase he heard Sonny play.

The thirteen-minute documentary features interviews with Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Heath, and Paul Jeffrey; an excerpt from a 1960 radio interview with John Coltrane; and video performances by ‘Trane and Sonny.

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Rest easy, Mr. Coltrane. We are still breathing your music.