It would be Coltrane for me. In my 50+ years of listening, the explosive pyrotechnics of genius guitar players often grew beyond my absorption capacity, and that happens a bit with "A Love Supreme" here.
Although I love the Indian influence coming through from McLaughlin, sounding like Ravi Shankar at times. This beautifully befits the context, as Coltrane admired Indian music, and met Ravi Shankar in 1964. Had they met a bit earlier, Ravi Shankar might have been an incredible addition to the line-up in the making of Coltrane's Love Supreme. I'm just dreaming here!
All of Coltrane's sound-making provides complex sets of intonations, which evoke movements, facial expressions, things that cannot be expressed in words per se.
This is why I was astonished to learn (16 years ago or so) that Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker had created a choreography to A Love Supreme. I went to see it live. It was the longest lasting non-stop immersion in goose-bumps and simultaneous laughter and tears I ever experienced.
To me De Keersmaeker had succeeded in matching the movements to the music.
This short clip shows the start. After 48 seconds of silence, Elvin comes in with the big Chinese cymbal:
I tried so hard to get into this album, but couldn't get past the first five minutes. It stayed in my LP collection for years, and didn't leave my shelf until (like an idiot) I gave all my lp's away and switched to cd's.
I had the good fortune last Monday to go to the temple of jazz recordings Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey for the new recording by the Dave Stryker Trio.
The studio is run by Maureen and Don Sicker.
Don gave us a tour and related the deep spiritual history about all the music recorded there.
He showed us the balcony where the cover photo for a Love Supreme was taken.
The Hammond B3 played by Jimmy Smith, Larry Young, McDuff, McGriff and so many more is there as well as the piano played by Monk and Bud.
Thanks Bret, for another enlightening piece. Apologies for just getting to read this now. Had not heard of this Santana/McLaughlin recording (I don't get around much--ever.) After listening to their reimagination of "A Love Supreme" that you offered here, I can say I love both imaginings equally. The soul needs what it needs when it needs it and apparently, this morning, I needed a little fire. I was pleased to find myself transported out of my neuroses (no easy task) into a peaceful yet shimmering white light. I know that sounds cliche, but hey, that's what happened and I'm sticking with my story. Thanks for the momentary escape from bodily reality.
As always, your descriptions wow me. you do imbue the music with a certain holiness.
What wowed me in my youth was jazz. What wow's me now is silence to write my poetry, read the news, and taking photos, though I get seduced by tick-tock way too often.
Got a picture a couple of days ago of a bug in the act of laying eggs. First time, and probably the last. Considered myself extremely lucky.
It would be Coltrane for me. In my 50+ years of listening, the explosive pyrotechnics of genius guitar players often grew beyond my absorption capacity, and that happens a bit with "A Love Supreme" here.
Although I love the Indian influence coming through from McLaughlin, sounding like Ravi Shankar at times. This beautifully befits the context, as Coltrane admired Indian music, and met Ravi Shankar in 1964. Had they met a bit earlier, Ravi Shankar might have been an incredible addition to the line-up in the making of Coltrane's Love Supreme. I'm just dreaming here!
All of Coltrane's sound-making provides complex sets of intonations, which evoke movements, facial expressions, things that cannot be expressed in words per se.
This is why I was astonished to learn (16 years ago or so) that Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker had created a choreography to A Love Supreme. I went to see it live. It was the longest lasting non-stop immersion in goose-bumps and simultaneous laughter and tears I ever experienced.
To me De Keersmaeker had succeeded in matching the movements to the music.
This short clip shows the start. After 48 seconds of silence, Elvin comes in with the big Chinese cymbal:
https://youtu.be/LwU8C27C78o?si=ymYJRI5ah5i93dpN
thanx for the clip🤙 mahalo
Totally agree, and totally cool dance clip. Wow.
I tried so hard to get into this album, but couldn't get past the first five minutes. It stayed in my LP collection for years, and didn't leave my shelf until (like an idiot) I gave all my lp's away and switched to cd's.
as a young man
i love fire
as a grown man
i surrender
to a devotion
to love
I had the good fortune last Monday to go to the temple of jazz recordings Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey for the new recording by the Dave Stryker Trio.
The studio is run by Maureen and Don Sicker.
Don gave us a tour and related the deep spiritual history about all the music recorded there.
He showed us the balcony where the cover photo for a Love Supreme was taken.
The Hammond B3 played by Jimmy Smith, Larry Young, McDuff, McGriff and so many more is there as well as the piano played by Monk and Bud.
E mail me if you'd like to see some pics: jim@jazzpromoservices.com
Thanks Bret, for another enlightening piece. Apologies for just getting to read this now. Had not heard of this Santana/McLaughlin recording (I don't get around much--ever.) After listening to their reimagination of "A Love Supreme" that you offered here, I can say I love both imaginings equally. The soul needs what it needs when it needs it and apparently, this morning, I needed a little fire. I was pleased to find myself transported out of my neuroses (no easy task) into a peaceful yet shimmering white light. I know that sounds cliche, but hey, that's what happened and I'm sticking with my story. Thanks for the momentary escape from bodily reality.
As always, your descriptions wow me. you do imbue the music with a certain holiness.
What wowed me in my youth was jazz. What wow's me now is silence to write my poetry, read the news, and taking photos, though I get seduced by tick-tock way too often.
Got a picture a couple of days ago of a bug in the act of laying eggs. First time, and probably the last. Considered myself extremely lucky.