John Coltrane's "The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording"
February 3, 2025 5:05 PM Subscribe
"...a deliriously scattered mess of joy and pain, intermingled and bound up within Coltrane's unbridled and luminescent energy. And now it stands as his parting gesture: one last moment bursting out at the seams with elation and ferocity, an awe-inspiring testament to life." — Pitchfork
Colin Fleming:
Colin Fleming:
Composed almost entirely of violently shifting textures and a commitment to dissonance that all but blasphemes melody and musical forms, this document of John Coltrane's last recorded concert from April 1967 is decidedly horrific, threatening, and appropriately staggering. ... There isn't going to be the sustained reward of anything familiar, affirming, nothing, just gaping maw. An Endgame for the jazz set.Rare photograph of the performance
Looking forward to checking this out. Alice and Thelonious are my two main influences as a pianist. (Although I am most influenced by her work on the Wurlitzer!) John is an influence on many many people, in the jazz world, and, I hope, elsewhere as well.
posted by kozad at 6:50 PM on February 3 [4 favorites]
posted by kozad at 6:50 PM on February 3 [4 favorites]
I caught him on some live afternoon show from KTRK-TV in Houston in the mid-1950's. We had a tall directional antenna and could watch Houston TV in Huntsville. Even as a mere school kid I was impressed by his voice. I have no memory of what he sang, however...
posted by jim in austin at 6:53 PM on February 3 [1 favorite]
posted by jim in austin at 6:53 PM on February 3 [1 favorite]
Sorry, wrong thread. Ignore the above...
posted by jim in austin at 7:01 PM on February 3 [2 favorites]
posted by jim in austin at 7:01 PM on February 3 [2 favorites]
Yeah, Coltrane technically “sings” on A Love Supreme, but it’s not an “impressed by his voice” occasion.
posted by Lemkin at 7:04 PM on February 3
posted by Lemkin at 7:04 PM on February 3
« Older "Thought I'd write a song about you, and dedicate... | vorauseilender Gehorsam Newer »
But if you listen with headphones, I think the sound quality is acceptable — especially given the recording's historical importance. And Alice tears shit up during her "Ogunde" solo. Damn, that woman could play.
posted by Lemkin at 5:06 PM on February 3 [3 favorites]