Anyone who has followed the SDP Jazz Note feature of this blog, maintained by Jason Heppler and myself, knows that we are fully hooded members of the Coltrane cult. I will confess that I have my doubts about the extraordinary emphasis on John Coltrane as the central figure of modern jazz. I think that Wayne Shorter was just as brilliant and influential, but that maybe just because I really like Shorter's work.
But the Coltrane cult is probably good for jazz. A new testament from the faithful is The Traneumentary: Celebrating the Artistry and Recordings of John Coltrane. If the title is a little goofy, the idea is pure gold. Here is how it started:
In the summer of 2006, I was contacted by Concord Records to create a podcast episode on a John Coltrane box set entitled “Fearless Leader.” After reviewing the material, it dawned on me that it would be nearly impossible, and somewhat a disservice, to create a single podcast episode on such an intense and profound artist. Having spent countless hours listening to Coltrane myself, I knew first hand his essence transcended the very music he left us and penetrated deeper areas within those who embraced it.
I had a bigger and better idea to introduce Coltrane to the podsphere and I quickly proceeded to contact my record label colleagues at Atlantic, Blue Note and Impulse. I told them about Concord’s request and presented a way we could all work together. I wanted to celebrate and introduce the great music of John Coltrane through his most famous recordings but also through personal stories and accounts from a variety of musicians, producers, writers and educators. Within thirty minutes, the Traneumentary was born.
The words are those of Joseph Vella, who has produced the podcast. It consists of a number of interviews with jazzmen who knew and were influenced by Coltrane. It makes for great listening. You get jazzmen like Terrence Blanchard (no relation) talking about Trane, with a lot of Trane's music in the background. There are also lots of links to purchase bits of Trane's output.
From the link above you can download the episodes or, better yet, subscribe to the podcast if you use iTunes or some similar client. I note that I was tipped off to this podcast project by Jeff Siegel's marvelous podcast Straight No Chaser. There are great riches of modern jazz at that site.
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