thank for these exquisite and profund words about John Coltrane and his music...They have been a poignant gift, taking me back to when I first heard his music, like nothing else I had heard before...
Amazing how successfully his music communicated that "supreme synthesis of the infinitesimal and the immeasurable," that the experience of listening to it can be so universal. Thank you for using your words to encourage us to return and be reminded.
I was moved by your post at the Autumn Equinox, your words, "It enters with a torrent of tears. Watching the rain fall, listening to Coltrane, thankful for the trembling leaves..." Thank you for sharing your memory of the Coltrane inspired conversations between you and your husband "of breaking through levels of consciousness, traveling to uncharted places, the benevolence of safe return, improvisation as prayer." For the way you saw Coltrane's "closing passage" as "a supreme synthesis of the infintesimal and the immeasureable, a musical phrase propelled by the breath of God."
Your words evoke in me such gratitude for the sweet vulnerability of life, loss, beauty, and our searching hearts. As well as the power and soul of John Coltrane's music. These are sacred moments you share. Thank you Patti Smith.
Thank you for this beautiful post. I'm listening to the sublime "Naima" as I type. I wonder if you also listen to Alice Coltrane. I have enjoyed discovering her music in recent years. When I see them on my record shelf next to each other I think of all the record collections around the world where they remain beside each other, unique but complementary.
Thank you Patti for this wonderful post which filled me with nostalgia for New York in the 60's. I was there studying with the great acting teacher Sanford Meisner. I never got to hear Coltrane live. My jazz highlight from those years was Pharoah Sanders live @ SLUGS. Happy birthday John Coltrane.
I'm a newcomer to Coltrane, and your endorsement is not to be ignored. I'm knocked out by the piano solo alone, in this piece. It's Spring time here, and already we've had the highest temperatures recorded since 1950s, and again unseasonal downpours of rain causing more flooding....this time in the South Island of Aotearoa. May your Autumn be more reasonable!
I think we're all in for unreasonable weather, Wing. Hope the temperature moderates and the flooding affects the least number of people possible. On a brighter note, I'm so glad you're discovering Coltrane. I'm more of a rock guy than a jazz guy but A Love Supreme just speaks to me. Keep cool.
Jim, I've found out that Coltrane died on my birthday when I was 14. Alas, being an early 1950's baby growing up in the backwaters, I didn't get to see anything as hip or cool as New York in the 1960's! New Zealand in the 1950s was a conservative, narrow minded post war society. The explosion of youth culture then, has stories of "bodies and widgies" tearing up the streets on motorbikes, canoodling in the cinemas and hanging around in milkbars. This all scandalised many Kiwi adults. A NZ novelist Fiona Kidman wrote a novel "This Mortal Boy" about a young lad involved in a milk bar fight in 1955, and this novel evokes that blighted society. Things have thankfully changed now!
Johnny Cash did travel by boat to NZ for a concert in 1959, and there were Marlon Brando films in the cinemas! Coltrane wasn't on my radar, so I'm pleased to discover him. As for weather everywhere, it seems to be too late and beyond human intervention now. Arohanui.
Thanks for sharing all this with me. Absolutely fascinating about New Zealand in the 50s and 60s. Toronto was, on the surface, a very conservative city but we had a lively cultural scene with great bands, great clubs, terrific movie theatres, the works. That said, I didn't discover Coltrane until I was in my 60s. I think it was from an interview I read of Patti's. That's one of the things I love so much about this Substack page. Every week I'm presented with something new and wonderful by Patti or by members of this community.
As for the climate, I feel pretty hopeless too. But I'll still use my voice, as Patti says. I don't know what good it does but doing nothing definitely won't have any effect. What can a poor boy do?
Thanks again for the NZ info. Be good to yourself.
I am clearly not alone here in praise of this piece and have recommended to friends. U encapsulated the drive of a musician to glean the spiritual realm in our lifelong pursuit so we’ll. Thank you!
John coltrane was a poet of galactic worlds .
thank for these exquisite and profund words about John Coltrane and his music...They have been a poignant gift, taking me back to when I first heard his music, like nothing else I had heard before...
Amazing how successfully his music communicated that "supreme synthesis of the infinitesimal and the immeasurable," that the experience of listening to it can be so universal. Thank you for using your words to encourage us to return and be reminded.
I was moved by your post at the Autumn Equinox, your words, "It enters with a torrent of tears. Watching the rain fall, listening to Coltrane, thankful for the trembling leaves..." Thank you for sharing your memory of the Coltrane inspired conversations between you and your husband "of breaking through levels of consciousness, traveling to uncharted places, the benevolence of safe return, improvisation as prayer." For the way you saw Coltrane's "closing passage" as "a supreme synthesis of the infintesimal and the immeasureable, a musical phrase propelled by the breath of God."
Your words evoke in me such gratitude for the sweet vulnerability of life, loss, beauty, and our searching hearts. As well as the power and soul of John Coltrane's music. These are sacred moments you share. Thank you Patti Smith.
Thank you for this beautiful post. I'm listening to the sublime "Naima" as I type. I wonder if you also listen to Alice Coltrane. I have enjoyed discovering her music in recent years. When I see them on my record shelf next to each other I think of all the record collections around the world where they remain beside each other, unique but complementary.
This was Supreme. Appreciated it.
♥️
Coltrane is so inspiring, Thank you
Thanks, Patti
Beautiful, thanks for the memories ❤️
Thank you Patti for this wonderful post which filled me with nostalgia for New York in the 60's. I was there studying with the great acting teacher Sanford Meisner. I never got to hear Coltrane live. My jazz highlight from those years was Pharoah Sanders live @ SLUGS. Happy birthday John Coltrane.
Oh Patti, such beautiful memories! Thank you.
I'm a newcomer to Coltrane, and your endorsement is not to be ignored. I'm knocked out by the piano solo alone, in this piece. It's Spring time here, and already we've had the highest temperatures recorded since 1950s, and again unseasonal downpours of rain causing more flooding....this time in the South Island of Aotearoa. May your Autumn be more reasonable!
I think we're all in for unreasonable weather, Wing. Hope the temperature moderates and the flooding affects the least number of people possible. On a brighter note, I'm so glad you're discovering Coltrane. I'm more of a rock guy than a jazz guy but A Love Supreme just speaks to me. Keep cool.
Jim, I've found out that Coltrane died on my birthday when I was 14. Alas, being an early 1950's baby growing up in the backwaters, I didn't get to see anything as hip or cool as New York in the 1960's! New Zealand in the 1950s was a conservative, narrow minded post war society. The explosion of youth culture then, has stories of "bodies and widgies" tearing up the streets on motorbikes, canoodling in the cinemas and hanging around in milkbars. This all scandalised many Kiwi adults. A NZ novelist Fiona Kidman wrote a novel "This Mortal Boy" about a young lad involved in a milk bar fight in 1955, and this novel evokes that blighted society. Things have thankfully changed now!
Johnny Cash did travel by boat to NZ for a concert in 1959, and there were Marlon Brando films in the cinemas! Coltrane wasn't on my radar, so I'm pleased to discover him. As for weather everywhere, it seems to be too late and beyond human intervention now. Arohanui.
Hey Wing
Thanks for sharing all this with me. Absolutely fascinating about New Zealand in the 50s and 60s. Toronto was, on the surface, a very conservative city but we had a lively cultural scene with great bands, great clubs, terrific movie theatres, the works. That said, I didn't discover Coltrane until I was in my 60s. I think it was from an interview I read of Patti's. That's one of the things I love so much about this Substack page. Every week I'm presented with something new and wonderful by Patti or by members of this community.
As for the climate, I feel pretty hopeless too. But I'll still use my voice, as Patti says. I don't know what good it does but doing nothing definitely won't have any effect. What can a poor boy do?
Thanks again for the NZ info. Be good to yourself.
I did mean "bodgies and widgies"....mods and rockers came later!
I have to admit that I had to look up bodgies and widgies. It self-corrected. What a great couple of terms. Language is incredible.
Jim, to let you in on a current kiwi-ism or bit of slang..."Up the Wahs!" means "Go the Warriors!", the favored NZ rugby team.
Beautiful.... thank you.
I am clearly not alone here in praise of this piece and have recommended to friends. U encapsulated the drive of a musician to glean the spiritual realm in our lifelong pursuit so we’ll. Thank you!
One of my most favorite pieces of his. It is hypnotic.