JOHN COLTRANE – A LOVE
SUPREME (IMPULSE! RECORDS)
This is a record that
has had books written about it so realistically from a critical stance there
really isn’t much that I can bring to the table other than personal emotion and
recollection.
If ever people bemoan
the sound that is jazz (as they invariably do), I will always spring to defence
of the art form using records such as A Love Supreme as a prime example of the
power and beauty that the music can hold.
Sure there is shitty jazz music but there is shitty music in absolutely
every genre. Some genres even have more
than their fair share/entitlement of dross.
I won’t deny that jazz will often be cheesy or noisily indulgent but
equally there can be no doubting the passion of a record such as this. Coltrane was looking and aiming for some
kind of ascended spiritual plane and was going to tell us how to join him. With A Love Supreme he pretty much achieved
it.
There is a distinct
warmth attached to this record. Indeed
the opening bars of “Acknowledgement” never fails to derive the kind of
goosebump reaction that little other music achieves. The bass of Jimmy Garrison is audibly saying “a love supreme”
prior to Coltrane dropping in and flying away with the composition (the
movement). The man literally soars in
his playing and effectively manages to take the listener with him. This is the sound of a most passionate time
imaginable.
When the track comes
to a climax seven minutes later a vocal chant of “a love supreme” grips
proceedings and drives home the intention of the work, delivers its message
hard and clear. It does not get much
cooler than this.
John Coltrane was a
gift from God. His motions were those
of a preacher and peace followed him into his work. His work was done at his pace and the audience would be wise to
adapt. The words force, sincerity and
drive were all attached to his music in one flow. Those and earnest.
With the tone now
established, the album swings into wonder with “Resolution”. As Coltrane plays like he is having a personal
conversation the band explodes around him until Garrison runs through with
another lead baseline and McCoy Tyner takes over seemingly responding to
Coltrane’s compassion. Within his
playing Tyner appears to be speaking to himself, offering his call and response
via slick trickery. Then just as the
tune reaches the top of the mountain tenor sax swoops back in and regains a
stronghold on proceedings and everything is indeed resolved. By the close the track comes full circle and
the soaring strands of Coltrane’s entry once again sends the song high into the
stratosphere.
The fourth member of
the quartet was Elvin Jones who’s pummelling beats offer a magnificent manner
of worship conjuring what feels an affecting storm that plays out in the
background serving to hold things together and maintain the listener’s
attention while the front players relay their message.
With this in mind it
is quite fitting that “Pursuance” opens with a drum solo and deserved centre
stage for a most valuable player. Then
Coltrane drops in a sense of freedom grips the moment, grips the motion as a
frenzied exploration takes hold and McCoy Tyner returns to the fore. As ever the leader holds back before
choosing the right time to return and storm the composition by which point a
crazed pulse of playing has taken hold and everyone is performing at breakneck
speed and a legendary intensity. You
could pursue harder.
Listened to as an
indie rock fan by this stage this work is sounding like Tortoise to me. This is punk in its purest form. The playing is tight and hard and of a
higher, deeper meaning and level. This
goes beyond music, becoming a most personal form of expression and art.
As “Pursuance”
dissolves into a few measured moments from Garrison, the record finally closes
“Psalm” and the final thoughts of Coltrane.
It rears into life with a subtle rumble and the playing of saxophone as
if it were speaking words. The peaceful
closing to proceedings remains one of a yearning, of a tangible sensation and
the offering of a gift to above. The
naked conclusion glistens offering an emotion similar to that of a sunset and
the passing of a day (the passing of time).
It sounds anxious in delivery but comforting in existence. What more could you want?
Then with one final
thunder rumble it is done. A
masterpiece made and a world enhanced.
I wish I could
remember first buying this album. Where
I got it from and how I felt. At what
age was I blessed and where was my existence at the time. Sometimes with music you buy into things too
much but with A Love Supreme you cannot buy it enough.
Thesaurus moment: nirvana.
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