When John Coltrane died in 1967, his wife Alice plunged into a crisis of the soul. Instead of crumbling, she looked inward and emerged with an album of timeless resonance and mystery.
Ah thank you friend! Was just responding to another reader on this front. It's a real treat to set turntables (or whatever) spinning all around the globe....
Really enjoyed this. The kind of piece that makes me want to go and play the music I've been reading about. I'm going to do that know - first Journey in Satchidananda, then the recently issued Alice Coltrane Carnegie Hall Concert LP. Thanks for this!
Fantastic write-up of an incredible album by a mesmerizing artist. I think that at the time of her tapas, more and more people were beginning to need something bigger and deeper than seeking spirituality through psychedelics or chemistry. The journey towards Eastern spirituality and even deeper Western religions began to blossom at this time. Of course, Ginsberg, Harrison, and many others had already made their pilgrimage east as well as hippies leaving the cities, living in communes, Native-inspired spirituality, and quasi-religious cults (The Source Family w/Father Yod and Ya Ho Wah), but there are many more examples.
It's good that Spiritual Jazz (as well as Free Jazz and Jazz Funk) is being rediscovered and appreciated by a new audience. The dismissal by Jazz purists says more about their unwillingness to think outside of the box and accept or honor creative risks is their loss. It's akin to the folk purists who were shocked when Dylan plugged in and Bloomfield joined the band.
Thank you for your research and sharing your insight with us. I also love Alice's 'Universal Consciousness' LP (which gets really far out!).
Ah, thank YOU Michael! It kind of got buried in the finished piece, but I do think it's important to note the fairly blunt sexism which accompanied Alice's stepping out on her own....
Without a doubt this is the most illuminating piece I have seen for some months....maybe years. As one whose first mystical experience took me out of where I thought I was going to "I don't know what it is I don't know," turning within became my guide. A host of teachers showed up and I was set free; as Alice was set free from the past, old admirers and all expectations from the world or her old self. There is only one story - it is the story of the Soul. Remembering our Divine Self is no longer personal for we are all deeply enmeshed. Namaste, Amen, Ameyn....and hallelujah!
Another excellent read Seth! Loved this so much. It’s gonna be an Alice Coltrane day around here for sure… thanks again.
Ah thank you friend! Was just responding to another reader on this front. It's a real treat to set turntables (or whatever) spinning all around the globe....
Really enjoyed this. The kind of piece that makes me want to go and play the music I've been reading about. I'm going to do that know - first Journey in Satchidananda, then the recently issued Alice Coltrane Carnegie Hall Concert LP. Thanks for this!
My true pleasure, Richard!
Fantastic write-up of an incredible album by a mesmerizing artist. I think that at the time of her tapas, more and more people were beginning to need something bigger and deeper than seeking spirituality through psychedelics or chemistry. The journey towards Eastern spirituality and even deeper Western religions began to blossom at this time. Of course, Ginsberg, Harrison, and many others had already made their pilgrimage east as well as hippies leaving the cities, living in communes, Native-inspired spirituality, and quasi-religious cults (The Source Family w/Father Yod and Ya Ho Wah), but there are many more examples.
It's good that Spiritual Jazz (as well as Free Jazz and Jazz Funk) is being rediscovered and appreciated by a new audience. The dismissal by Jazz purists says more about their unwillingness to think outside of the box and accept or honor creative risks is their loss. It's akin to the folk purists who were shocked when Dylan plugged in and Bloomfield joined the band.
Thank you for your research and sharing your insight with us. I also love Alice's 'Universal Consciousness' LP (which gets really far out!).
Ah, thank YOU Michael! It kind of got buried in the finished piece, but I do think it's important to note the fairly blunt sexism which accompanied Alice's stepping out on her own....
Without a doubt this is the most illuminating piece I have seen for some months....maybe years. As one whose first mystical experience took me out of where I thought I was going to "I don't know what it is I don't know," turning within became my guide. A host of teachers showed up and I was set free; as Alice was set free from the past, old admirers and all expectations from the world or her old self. There is only one story - it is the story of the Soul. Remembering our Divine Self is no longer personal for we are all deeply enmeshed. Namaste, Amen, Ameyn....and hallelujah!
Thank you so much Eliza; appreciate this so much!