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Love Supreme

Love Supreme

  • Artist: John Coltrane
  • Total time: 32:59
  • Label: Castle Pie
  • Availability: Sold out
  • Item #: 20488146
  • Your Price: $36.98
Currently available in US only.

Review

Easily one of the most important records ever made, John Coltrane's A Love Supreme was his pinnacle studio outing that at once compiled all of his innovations from his past, spoke of his current deep spirituality, and also gave a glimpse into the next two and a half years (sadly, those would be his last). Recorded at the end of 1964, Trane's classic quartet of Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, and Jimmy Garrison stepped into the studio and created one of the most thought-provoking, concise, and technically pleasing albums of their bountiful relationship (not to mention his best-selling to date). From the undulatory (and classic) bassline at the intro to the last breathy notes, Trane is at the peak of his logical yet emotionally varied soloing while the rest of the group is remarkably in tune with Coltrane's spiritual vibe. Composed of four parts, each has a thematic progression leading to an understanding of spirituality through meditation. From the beginning, "Acknowledgement" is the awakening of sorts that trails off to the famous chanting of the theme at the end, which yields to the second act, "Resolution," an amazingly beautiful piece about the fury of dedication to a new path of understanding. "Persuance" is a search for that understanding, and "Psalm" is the enlightenment. Although he is at times aggressive and atonal, this isn't Trane at his most adventurous (pretty much everything recorded from here on out progressively becomes much more free, and live recordings from this period are extremely spirited), but it certainly is his best attempt at the realization of concept -- as the spiritual journey is made amazingly clear. A Love Supreme clocks in at just over 30 minutes, but if it had been any longer it could have turned into a laborious listen. As it stands, just enough is conveyed. It is almost impossible to imagine a world without A Love Supreme having been made, and it is equally impossible to imagine any jazz collection without it. ~ Jack LV Isles, All Music Guide

Track Listing

1. Love Supreme, Pt. 1: Acknowledgement 7:47
2. Love Supreme, Pt. 2: Resolution 7:25
3. Love Supreme, Pt. 3: Pursuance/Pt. 4: Psalm 17:50

Details of This Recording

  • Label: Castle Pie
  • Credits:
  • Additional Info:
  • Styles:
    • Jazz
    • Avant-Garde
    • Post-Bop
    • Hard Bop
    • Free Jazz
    • United States of America
    • Modal Music
    • Avant-Garde Jazz

Contents

Part 1-Acknowledgement; Part 2-Resolution; Part 3-Pursuance; Part 4-Psalm.

John Coltrane, Tenor Sax; McCoy Tyner, Piano; Elvin Jones, Drums; Jimmy Garrison, Bass.

Extended Article

His seminal masterpiece, John Coltrane's A Love Supreme demonstrates the power of spirituality in jazz, and served as the catalyst for a whole new musical universe. To hear this recording is to take a listening journey that is ethereal, reflective, passionate, hypnotic and meditative. Every bit as vital and influential today as when it was first released in 1965, it continues to inspire a diverse array of music lovers and musicians.

By any measure, John Coltrane (1926-67) was one of the most important and influential musicians in the history of jazz.

Born in North Carolina and schooled in Philadelphia, John William Coltrane paid his musical dues in various jazz rhythm & blues bands before establishing himself with trumpeter Miles Davis' quintet in 1955. It was during this tenure with Davis that his distinctive tone and adventurous approach to harmony blossomed. A stint with pianist and composer Thelonious Monk two years later further honed his playing and improvisational skills. After briefly rejoining Davis' group, he went out on his own in 1960. The John Coltrane Quartet quickly became one of the most talked-about bands in jazz.

Coltrane's justly-celebrated quartet-with McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass and Elvin Jones on drums-recorded exclusively for Impulse Records, producing such acknowledged classics as A Love Supreme and Crescent. His romantic side was shown to great effect on Ballads and John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. Later efforts such as Ascension, which features an expanded ensemble, reflect Coltrane's deep spirituality and search for a universal music.

John Coltrane's Impulse catalog constitues one of the most profound and valuable treasures in recorded jazz. The Verve Music Group is committed to keeping Coltrane's Impulse lagacy alive.

Read About This Recording

This is one of the most famous jazz albums of the 1960s, John Coltrane's gift to God. Coltrane had been jazz's pacesetting tenor and soprano-saxophonist since the late 1950s, growing in power, inventiveness and spirituality ever since. Not only did Coltrane develop very original sounds on his two instruments, but his way of playing (marathon solos, a vast vocabulary of sounds and a brilliant and hypnotic use of repetition) was quite innovative and influential. Trane's classic quartet (with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones) had been together since early 1962 (Tyner and Jones had been with Coltrane for a year before that) and was perfectly complimentary to his memorable flights.

Coltrane had stretched bebop and chordal improvisation to the limits with Giant Steps in 1959. After that, he became involved in long sound explorations over one- and two-chord vamps, simplifying his accompaniment and putting the focus on his emotional and lengthy solos. A Love Supreme is a four-part work (Acknowledgement/Resolution/Pursuance/Psalm) that is most famous for the theme and solos on Resolution and the catchy chanting by the musicians. It was the culmination of Coltrane's past four years with his quartet, and hinted at the very avant-garde playing that would dominate his remaining two years. It is a classic that belongs in every serious music collection.

-Scott Yanow