markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

For those of you who were fans and admirers - interviews of his wife and fellow musicians.
Enjoy,
Mark
http://www.jazzonthetube.com/videos/john-coltrane/the-world-according-to-john-coltrane.html

FrankR Loc: NYC

Musically, we live in the shadow of a giant. That giant is John William Coltrane.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

For sure, Frank. There were no limits to his creativity, imagination and through knowledge of all musical structures.
Mark

AmyJ Loc: Maryland

...and then put that together with Thelonius Monk, awesome.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Yes, Amy. A real pioneer in the 40's & 50's when musicians began to explore more complex structures in jazz. He was a forerunner. Interesting life too. He was probably schizophrenic or bi-polar. Have you seen the movie about his life, "Straight no Chaser"?
Mark

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

Thank you for the link.

AmyJ Loc: Maryland

I will have to check the movie out...the name alone speaks volumes.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

My pleasure
Mark

FrankR Loc: NYC

Summer of '57, I decided to run away from home one night and somehow, ended up on the Bowery, wandering around. It was far from the gentrified hipster haven it is now, but I wasn't worried as I knew I could outrun anybody I came across. At 14 and skinny, I certainly wasn't going to fight them. Anyway, I heard this music which more than pulled me along and wound up standing in front of a place called The Five Spot. I stood there mesmerized, not knowing what I was listening to, only that it was special and I would probably never hear it again. It was the Thelonious Monk Quartet, featuring John Coltrane on tenor. Monk had been booked into the Five Spot for the usual week or two and ended up playing there for around six months. Unfortunately, I was right, I would never hear that again, as nobody thought to do a live recording until Johnny Griffin replaced Trane in the group. The only live recording of them in the club was one Naima Coltrane made with a hand held mic and tape recorder.

FrankR Loc: NYC

Absolutely love the first spoken line in the movie. Monk says, "I'm famous. Ain't that a bitch?"

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Ah yes! The Five Spot. Knew it well around the same time. I did my undergraduate degree at Fairleigh Dickinson U (Teaneck, NJ campus). I'd take the bus into Port Authority, take the subway to the Village, Birdland, ... Birdland was a trip! $2 to sit in the gallery and listen to the greatest jazz in the world until 3:30 AM. That was some group you saw at the Five Spot. It's so refreshing to have a couple of "Jazz Buddies" on UHH. I patiently introduced my wife to jazz in the early 70's. She loves it now. It's a joy to be able to share that with her. Almost all the adults of my generation, now 70 - 80, think the only music is Rock. I also love classical. Going to NJPAC tonight to hear Pinchas Zukerman perform a Beethoven concert. My oldest friend and I have been fans of jazz since the late 40's.
Talk soon Frank.
Mark

FrankR Loc: NYC

Mark, you mention Birdland; another story if I may. I was at Birdland with a friend of mine to see Trane. Second show, middle of the week, so usually a crowd with big ears. I don't remember what he was playing, but let's say it was "Giant Steps," and he's really into it, had a lot to say, played chorus after chorus. They had a red light at the back of the club that faces the stage and would flash it on and off to let the players on stage they were running long. So the light is flashing and Trane is playing, no let up. Peewee Marquette walks up to the stage and pulls on his pant leg, yelling, "John, time man, time!" Trane looks down at him, scowls and stomps off. The next act comes on, I'm listening and my friend tells me to listen, to which I reply that if he would shut the F up, I would be able to. He says, "No, not there (indicating the stage), there," and he points to the door off the side of the stage. So I change focus and then I start to hear, Trane is on the other side of the door, finishing what he had started to say, like he just couldn't shut it down without completing the thought.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Frank,

That story is a treasure AND, you were there!! I don't think there will ever be jazz personalities like Miles, Monk, Bird, Brown, Powell, ... again. They were starving, incredibly creative, focused musicians. Originators as opposed to imitators. Thanks for sharing that story.

On another note, I went to NJPAC (Newark) last night to see Pinchas Zukerman perform the Beethoven Violin Concerto. Wow!! The old composers did not make it easy for the ones who desired to play their compositions. Of course, many of the exceptional older jazz musicians had formal training.

That story blows my mind!!
Thanks,
Mark
(maybe except Miles since the 60's)