Spirituality and John Coltrane Essay -- Essays Papers

Spirituality and John Coltrane After being fired from Miles Daviss phone in 1957 for his chronic use of heroin, John Coltrane was hurt tremendously. He decided it was time he quit using heroin. He took a month glum from music while he went cold turkey. During this month in the early spring of 1957, Coltrane had a momentous religious experience (Nisenson, 40). Coltrane asked God to give him the representation and privilege to make others happy through music (Coltrane, 1995, 2). As time went on, Coltrane felt that he was leading a life that was contradictory to the pledge and extraneous from the esteemed path that he had made to God (Coltrane, 1995, 2). Starting with A Love Supreme (recorded in December, 1964), Coltrane stuck to his pledge. In doing so, Coltrane would seek for the truth in sounds, Einstein, the kabbala and Sufism. Coltranes version of God was not limited to denominational name, and this broad palette of spirituality helped guide him through his l ife and his music until his death on July 16, 1967. A Little Background John William Coltrane was born September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. He was the grandson of a Reverend, Walter Blair. Blair was the pastor of St. Stephens African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Johns father, John Robert Coltrane, love to play the violin and the ukulele (Nisenson, 4). John Coltrane received some of his musical training from the Zion Church his grandfather was the pastor of. First, the young Coltrane played clarinet, and eventually move to saxophone, which was the instrument he was associated with from that time on. During his earliest days of playing music, the church had an impact on him. But in 1943, he moved to Philade... ...ystery of Humanity peace of mind and Survival. New York University Press of America, 1986. Coltrane, John. Live in Japan. Impulse, GRD-4-102, 1991. Coltrane, John. A Love Supreme. Impulse, GRD-155, 1995. Coltrane, John. The Majo r Works of John Coltrane. Impulse, GRD-2-113, 1992. Coltrane, John. Meditations. Impulse, IMPD-199, 1996. Davis, Miles with Quincy Troupe. Miles The Autobiography. New York Touchstone, 1990.Einstein, Albert. Relativity The Special and General Theory. Trans. Robert W. Lawson. New York Crown, 1931. Halevi, Zev ben Shimon. kabbala Tradition of Hidden Knowledge. London Thames and Hudson, 1979. Nisenson, Eric. Ascension John Coltrane and His Quest. New York St. Martins, 1993. Thomas, J. C. Chasin the Trane The music and mystique of John Coltrane. London Elm Tree, 1976.