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Posted On: September 29th 2026, 12:30 am
Artist – John Coltrane
Album – Stardust
Year – 1963
Prestige – PRST 7268
It’s no exaggeration to say that John Coltrane may be the single greatest musician ever. It’s certainly no exaggeration to say that he is amongst the most influential, either.
The day that I introduced you to him for the first time, September 23rd, 2026, was Trane’s 100th birthday. He died of Liver Cancer at the age of 40 but somehow left a shadow that a regular great musician would require 300 years to cast.
After World War II, Coltrane moved to Philadelphia (damn that city is magical) where he used his Military involvement to enroll at the Granoff School of Music, where he would study music theory. Shortly thereafter, and partly through the relationship he had with his mentor, Dennis Sandole, he performed alongside the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, Thelonius Monk and Miles Davis. As I would have instilled in you by now, that’s a real who’s who; some of the all-time greats.
By the mid ‘50s, he was afflicted by a disease that many in the jazz community suffered from, Heroin and Alcohol Addiction. It didn’t, however, stop him from completing two of the most renowned albums in the annals of Jazz Music history; “Blue Train” and “A Love Supreme.”
While I don’t have copies of those albums to present to you (yet, I promise I will one day), the redord I showed you, “Stardust” is one of my favorite session recordings of his. I find it to be some of the prettiest recordings of Coltrane, and your mother would agree! It isn’t often she speaks out about liking Jazz.
By 40 years old, Coltrane went on to win a Pulitzer, was canonized by the African Orthodox Church, have a religion formed where they viewed him as a Prophet, married an incredible musician (Alice Coltrane) and his home in Philadelphia is a historical landmark. In about 5 hours we will be leaving Las Vegas for a brief vacation in that very city. Maybe we’ll get to visit his home!
“After all the investigation, all of the technique-doesn’t matter! Only if the feeling is right.”– John Coltrane
Album – Stardust
Year – 1963
Prestige – PRST 7268
It’s no exaggeration to say that John Coltrane may be the single greatest musician ever. It’s certainly no exaggeration to say that he is amongst the most influential, either.
The day that I introduced you to him for the first time, September 23rd, 2026, was Trane’s 100th birthday. He died of Liver Cancer at the age of 40 but somehow left a shadow that a regular great musician would require 300 years to cast.
After World War II, Coltrane moved to Philadelphia (damn that city is magical) where he used his Military involvement to enroll at the Granoff School of Music, where he would study music theory. Shortly thereafter, and partly through the relationship he had with his mentor, Dennis Sandole, he performed alongside the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, Thelonius Monk and Miles Davis. As I would have instilled in you by now, that’s a real who’s who; some of the all-time greats.
By the mid ‘50s, he was afflicted by a disease that many in the jazz community suffered from, Heroin and Alcohol Addiction. It didn’t, however, stop him from completing two of the most renowned albums in the annals of Jazz Music history; “Blue Train” and “A Love Supreme.”
While I don’t have copies of those albums to present to you (yet, I promise I will one day), the redord I showed you, “Stardust” is one of my favorite session recordings of his. I find it to be some of the prettiest recordings of Coltrane, and your mother would agree! It isn’t often she speaks out about liking Jazz.
By 40 years old, Coltrane went on to win a Pulitzer, was canonized by the African Orthodox Church, have a religion formed where they viewed him as a Prophet, married an incredible musician (Alice Coltrane) and his home in Philadelphia is a historical landmark. In about 5 hours we will be leaving Las Vegas for a brief vacation in that very city. Maybe we’ll get to visit his home!
“After all the investigation, all of the technique-doesn’t matter! Only if the feeling is right.”– John Coltrane
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