Alice Coltrane

[paulfromcamden]

I've been playing the newly released Alice Coltrane CD pretty much on repeat this week.

I think I have most of her official releases but time to fill the gaps. I came to her music a little late. I had tickets to see her perform in London in 2007 but she passed away a few months before the concert.

For someone who led such an incredible life it seems an incredible oversight that no one has written her biography. Where can I read more about Alice?

 

[paulfromcamden]

I've just realised today is Alice's birthday!

This 15 min documentary on Alice from 1970 is great: https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2012.79.1.16.1a

I love the opening sequence of her arriving home in the E-Type.

 

[paulfromcamden]

This, er, unofficial Alice CD arrived today. 30 mins of Africa from 1971 with a group featuring, amongst others, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Jimmy Garrison, Cecil McBee and Ed Blackwell.

Sound quality OK rather than stellar. Music (obviously) wonderful.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07BN7YNBW/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

 

[stairpost]

I hear Alice Coltrane tracks on 6 music now and again and always think I must have a proper listen.

She seems like an interesting artist.

 

[paulfromcamden]

I hear Alice Coltrane tracks on 6 music now and again and always think I must have a proper listen.

She seems like an interesting artist.

I'm sure everyone has a different favourite but you could try starting with Journey in Satchidananda.

Amazon link for CD: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000024HSS/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

 

[stairpost]

I had a listen to the first few tracks on my walk to work this morning, it's brilliant stuff. I shall definitely make time to sit and have a proper listen at home.

 

[kjb]

I've been playing the newly released Alice Coltrane CD pretty much on repeat this week.

I think I have most of her official releases but time to fill the gaps. I came to her music a little late. I had tickets to see her perform in London in 2007 but she passed away a few months before the concert.

For someone who led such an incredible life it seems an incredible oversight that no one has written her biography. Where can I read more about Alice?

Thanks for this post. I've been streaming Kirtan: Turiya Sings a lot in the last couple of week after reading it and have gone back into the Alice Coltrane recordings I have on the shelf ( Currently only CDs of Ptah and Satchidananda).

Can someone guide essential further listening - there's a lot to explore here.

 

[paulfromcamden]

I'm hopeless at singling out essential recordings (my instinct is to get them all!) but Stewart Smith wrote a good primer for The Quietus:

https://thequietus.com/articles/22328-alice-coltrane-review-john-coltrane

 

[kjb]

I'm hopeless at singling out essential recordings (my instinct is to get them all!) but Stewart Smith wrote a good primer for The Quietus:

https://thequietus.com/articles/22328-alice-coltrane-review-john-coltrane

Thank you! I’ll put a playlist together tonight to explore these but I fear that may lead to quite a bit of expenditure.

 

[sideshowbob]

I've always found her own music almost completely unlistenable. I might revisit, it's been a few years.

 

[florette69]

I've always found her own music almost completely unlistenable.

Is this unlistenable?

 

[Tony L]

I really like Alice Coltrane. She is frequently unfairly viewed and overlooked due to her husband’s career, but her work has proven hugely influential IMO paving the way for a lot of stuff outside the conventional jazz field. I hear echos in Amon Düül etc and a lot of more recent drone/ambient stuff along with a fair bit of soul-jazz. You can’t listen to much modern stuff such as Emma Jean Thackray, Makaya McCraven, Damian Locks Black Monument Ensemble, Miasha etc without hearing a little Alice in the mix. I’d love to see Acoustic Sounds properly issue some of her Impulse albums.

 

[Seanm]

I'm hopeless at singling out essential recordings (my instinct is to get them all!) but Stewart Smith wrote a good primer for The Quietus:

https://thequietus.com/articles/22328-alice-coltrane-review-john-coltrane

That’s really good! Agree with his assessment of Universal Consciousness as her masterpiece, and he pulls lots of interesting stuff out, including this duet with Charlie Haden:

 

[oldius]

She was an absolute genius, in my view, and a huge influence - Matthew Halsall, for one, is indebted to the music she created.
My single favourite jazz track of all:

The Journey album already mentioned, Ptah the El Daoud, and A Monastic Trio, rank as three of my all-time favourite jazz albums.

 

[paulfromcamden]

I really like Alice Coltrane. She is frequently unfairly viewed and overlooked due to her husband’s career

The whole 'Yoko Ono of jazz' thing beggars belief. Lazy, misogynistic, sad and just plain wrong. Unbelievable that people are still trotting it out in 2021.

 

[Tony L]

She was an absolute genius, in my view, and a huge influence - Matthew Halsall, for one, is indebted to the music she created.

Yes, I can see that too.

The whole 'Yoko Ono of jazz' thing beggars belief. Lazy, misogynistic, sad and just plain wrong. Unbelievable that people are still trotting it out in 2021.

Yoko was the best Beatle by far.

 

[Alex N]

One to get lost in...

The closing track, ‘Earth’, is on some other level.

 

[Tony L]

Indeed, I picked the Craft/Jazz Dispensary reissue of that up a while back and it is excellent. Must dig it out for another spin.

 

[sideshowbob]

One to get lost in...

The closing track, ‘Earth’, is on some other level.

That is a great album, indeed. She's an integral part of many albums I love, but I'm mostly completely indifferent to the records she leads on.

I'm a big Yoko fan, mind.

 

[sideshowbob]

Is this unlistenable?

To me, yes. Unbearable new ageism going on there. No grit in the shell.