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A Love Supreme album cover
In 1965, while on tour in Japan, saxophonist John Coltrane told an interviewer "I believe men are here to grow themselves into the best good that they can be. And this is what I want to do," he said. "As I'm going there, becoming this, and when I become, if I ever become,
it will come out of the horn."
That same year, Coltrane and his quartet released
A Love Supreme, a spiritual, four-part modal jazz suite that was well received at the time of its release and is now considered one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. The music is soaring and free but cohesive and thematic, a personal reflection on Coltrane's search for spirituality after kicking a heroin habit.
Rolling Stone magazine wrote that Coltrane's transcendent playing on the album "soars with nothing but gratitude and joy." The Saint Coltrane African Orthodox Church in San Francisco hosts extended jazz jam sessions in Coltrane's name every Sunday.
From Dec. 10-14, SFJAZZ will present a
50th anniversary celebration of A Love Supreme, curated by Coltrane's son, Ravi Coltrane.
Ashley Kahn, author of the 2002 book
A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album, will lead a symposium December 10 with SFJAZZ Poet Laureate Ishmael Reed, former Santana drummer Michael Shrieve, Big Brother and the Holding Company guitarist Sam Andrew, and SFJAZZ founder Randall Kline, who will all discuss the development, impact, and influence of
A Love Supreme.
Ravi and tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano will perform Dec. 11 backed by pianist Geri Allen, bassist Drew Gress, and drummer Ralph Peterson. Ravi's quartet will perform Dec. 12 with the Turtle Island Quartet, an improvisational string ensemble that won a 2007 Grammy for its
A Love Supreme recording. Coltrane performs again on Dec. 13 with his quartet and special guests including trumpeter Nicholas Payton, guitarist Adam Rogers, bassist Matthew Garrison — son of John Coltrane Quartet bassist Jimmy Garrison — and drummer Marcus Gilmore, grandson of John Coltrane collaborator Roy Haynes.
He performs again during an afternoon concert on Dec.14 with the award-winning SFJAZZ High School All Stars. Also on Dec. 14, the saxophonist and composer Steve Coleman will perform free jazz, funk, soul, and world music with the Five Elements band. $15-$50,
sfjazz.org.
