Quote Blog
220-313 John Coltrane
After Coltrane recorded "Giant Steps" he created his great quartet which included musicians, McCoy Tyner (piano) Elvin Jones (drums), Reggie Workman (bass). Coltrane played with these musicians from 1961-1962 and recorded the album "Africa/Brass". This album was extremely different from the last that Coltrane had released. This album featured a very selective section of brass as well as heavy influence from African music. This step was one of the first that Coltrane really made towards the music branch under jazz called Avant-Garde. Avant-Garde music is classified as music that showcases new and experimental ideas. The drive behind Coltrane attempting something new and wild like this was rooted in what he believed music was. Coltrane talked a lot about how he believed that music was one of the deepest connections to the human being. Being able to play different variations of music allowed for him to supposedly connect to more human beings on a deeper level.
Throughout this book, a big ongoing theme that Coltrane seemed to portray is that he wanted to connect with the listener and heal them. He had this strong belief that music could provide freedom for any and all who listen too it. It just depended on what they listened too. In Coltrane's case, before he recorded "Giant steps" and "Africa/Brass", he was not playing music that felt organic to him. By this, I mean, he was not playing music that he could one hundred percent connect with. This is when he brought up the quote below. Coltrane stated that all a musician can do is get closer to the sources of nature. I think that by this Coltrane was talking about how playing the music that he organically produced without bias would allow for him to get the closest to the sources of nature as music is a naturally occurring thing. When listening to the tracks off of "Africa/Brass" one can notice that it sounds like what Coltrane is playing is unrehearsed. It almost sounds as if he is playing exactly what he feels and what ever comes to his mind in the moment. When comparing this music to all of the other music that was around him at the time, this puts his music into a whole entirely different category. It sounds totally different! If you want to hear something totally different from anything else you have ever heard before, check this out! I only just found out about this album after reading this book! It gets really interesting around 3.30 min!
"All a musician can do is get closer to the sources of nature, and so feel that he is in communion with the natural laws." (211)
After reading this about Coltrane, I am extremely inspired! I think that the theme of playing what comes organically to you and not playing what you think others want to play, has helped me with my playing recently. This past weekend, I played at the wedding of my buddy Kristian's mother. I decided to go into the 2 hour gig with the mentality that Coltrane portrayed throughout this book. What I found after a few songs was really cool! I began to stumble across all of these new ideas that I had never played before. I also began to take the beginning of my solos the same way that Coltrane does in a lot of his later work. This approach is that of leaving a lot of space until the ideas begin to come. By doing this, what you play is quality and not rushed. I guess it is almost like thinking before you speak!
After Coltrane recorded "Giant Steps" he created his great quartet which included musicians, McCoy Tyner (piano) Elvin Jones (drums), Reggie Workman (bass). Coltrane played with these musicians from 1961-1962 and recorded the album "Africa/Brass". This album was extremely different from the last that Coltrane had released. This album featured a very selective section of brass as well as heavy influence from African music. This step was one of the first that Coltrane really made towards the music branch under jazz called Avant-Garde. Avant-Garde music is classified as music that showcases new and experimental ideas. The drive behind Coltrane attempting something new and wild like this was rooted in what he believed music was. Coltrane talked a lot about how he believed that music was one of the deepest connections to the human being. Being able to play different variations of music allowed for him to supposedly connect to more human beings on a deeper level.
Throughout this book, a big ongoing theme that Coltrane seemed to portray is that he wanted to connect with the listener and heal them. He had this strong belief that music could provide freedom for any and all who listen too it. It just depended on what they listened too. In Coltrane's case, before he recorded "Giant steps" and "Africa/Brass", he was not playing music that felt organic to him. By this, I mean, he was not playing music that he could one hundred percent connect with. This is when he brought up the quote below. Coltrane stated that all a musician can do is get closer to the sources of nature. I think that by this Coltrane was talking about how playing the music that he organically produced without bias would allow for him to get the closest to the sources of nature as music is a naturally occurring thing. When listening to the tracks off of "Africa/Brass" one can notice that it sounds like what Coltrane is playing is unrehearsed. It almost sounds as if he is playing exactly what he feels and what ever comes to his mind in the moment. When comparing this music to all of the other music that was around him at the time, this puts his music into a whole entirely different category. It sounds totally different! If you want to hear something totally different from anything else you have ever heard before, check this out! I only just found out about this album after reading this book! It gets really interesting around 3.30 min!
"All a musician can do is get closer to the sources of nature, and so feel that he is in communion with the natural laws." (211)
After reading this about Coltrane, I am extremely inspired! I think that the theme of playing what comes organically to you and not playing what you think others want to play, has helped me with my playing recently. This past weekend, I played at the wedding of my buddy Kristian's mother. I decided to go into the 2 hour gig with the mentality that Coltrane portrayed throughout this book. What I found after a few songs was really cool! I began to stumble across all of these new ideas that I had never played before. I also began to take the beginning of my solos the same way that Coltrane does in a lot of his later work. This approach is that of leaving a lot of space until the ideas begin to come. By doing this, what you play is quality and not rushed. I guess it is almost like thinking before you speak!
That's a neat application, Jake. I'm glad that you have these gigs to practice this way and see the effect that your playing has on your audience. I hope everyone was having a great time!
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