Jawn Coal-Train

So, few of you may know that I am a fairly big jazzhead. I used to be in jazz band in high school and all that jazz(pun intended). So, for the first jazz CD on here, I decided to select the CD that got me into jazz originally, John Coltrane’s 1964 album A Love Supreme.

Coltrane’s A Love Supreme was made right after he left Miles Davis’ band for the first time and conquered his demons of alcoholism and drugs. A Love Supreme was recorded as a celebration of his new found sobriety and his new found belief in God and faith.

The 4 part suite is one long track divided into: Quartet: Acknowledgment(Part 1), Resolution(Part 2), Pursuance(Part 3), Psalm (Part 4). My favorite movements are part 1 and part 3, which features and intro drum solo.

The main reason I was enthralled by this album was due to the incredible drummer, Elvin Jones(R.I.P) Elvin creates such intricate polyrhythmic phrases and just a huge WALL of sound never duplicated in jazz music to this day. He swung so hard and produced such a strong downbeat, you can’t help but tap along and bob yo head. Dude was baaaaaad. He majorly influenced Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix band. Ever wonder why Jimi’s music had some swing to it? Those bombastic fills were a direct nod to Mr. Elvin Jones.

Everything Coltrane did before was a progression to this album and everything after became too convoluted in experimentation. This album shows Coltrane at his peak.

Check out part 1: Acknowledgment:

 

Listen to more jazz, it will make you a better human being.

Until whenever,

BD