tune in & get turned up: John Coltrane

This is my first post to begin the new year & what better way to kick things off than to bring up one of jazz's premier musicians of all time, the late John Coltrane. Not only am I a longtime fan of the man's music; I've also patiently embraced all the changes his music underwent right up to his passing in July 1967. If you love jazz or for that matter music in general, Coltrane should absolutely figure in as one of your primary favorites. He's one of my all-time greats, I'll tell you this much already.

Of course, some of his output is not for everybody (e.g. his late-period efforts): to some, he might sound like he's trying to exorcise demons out of his tenor (& occasionally) soprano saxophone. Some will remark that he's forceful, aggressive, downright intense as intense can be, playing his heart out & revealing to us a myriad of emotions you can't find elsewhere. And there are some who remark that his playing is a ton of sonic dreck. Each listener's personal opinions are justifiable at this point. But here's the bottom line: Coltrane always will be viewed as a lyrical & musical genius, as good as jazz musicians ever could get in their lifetimes. And the best way to truly appreciate his music is to approach each release of his with an open heart, an open mind & an open ears...in short, check your biases at the door.

And here's a brief list of must-haves to consider for beginning your John Coltrane collection:
Giant Steps
My Favorite Things (both of the above albums reveal Trane at the peak of his work with Atlantic)
A Love Supreme
Live at Birdland
Live at the Village Vanguard
Ballads (Trane was a master at ballads; this recording confirms just why he was)
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (an awesome flipping classic)

At any rate, Coltrane recorded prolifically but these albums I just mentioned are perfect starting points to delve into his music. Wherever your ears go next in his discography is up to you to decide.