I have been enlightened most by our lecture on Jazz's Holy Grail- John Coltrane. Professor Burke described his style as being all about excess and playing more notes than you think he would. This is in direct opposition of what I thought about Coltrane.
Although I felt like I was well versed in jazz (which clearly was incorrect), my image of John Coltrane was "My Favorite Things" with smooth melodic tones. When I was "assaulted" by "Ascension" and "Consequences" I was totally shocked by the noise I heard! So many notes with almost no real rhythm and beat was completely unappealing.
I asked the question in class about Coltrane being on drugs, because that's what I initially thought must be going on for him to play this way. As Professor Burke carried me musically through Coltrane's life I realized that was not the truth at all. As Coltrane progressed and grew musically, his true "sheets of sound" and overlapping cords emerged. While I initially did not enjoy the music, I listened to the records again, to gain an appreciation of how he fit notes and cords together. While the music still does not appeal to me, I can see what he was trying to do with the music.
I enjoyed listening to some of the artists that were influenced by Coltrane, like The Doors and The Byrds. I have listened to "Super Bad" many times, but never even heard James Brown reference "gimme some Trane!" It was exciting I have started to listen for Coltrane in other artists, so I can see how his spectrum of influence has grown ad progressed over the years.
As I find some I will share!
-- Anissa Barron
