Comments for Coltrane, John, Om

Ah yes, the clarified butter. A departure from reality is the description for this album. Don't even try to listen to this CD unless you are at least somewhat inhebriated. Very complex, not always melodic, sometimes whaling disidence and distortion.

I will tell people that whatever avante-garde musical movements occurred in the sixties among rock artists, the jazz artists had already transcended it. This one is probably the densest, most dissonant and brilliant recordings of this type. But the Beatles are always credited with breaking new musical ground with "Sgt. Pepper", or Hendrix's entrance to the music scene, both two years after this was recorded. We need more jazz fans.

I would agree with everyone that this is some shit (in a good way). You'll probably never hear anythign like the first ten minutes of this piece ever again. My only drawbacks are that after Sanders' solo the piece fades into a tropical rain forest of clutterings and howls. If only they had kept up the saxophony for longer this album would truly be a great one.

Definitly an album ahead of it's time. If you like Om & other Coltrane free jazz, I suggest buying the 2CD set "The Major Works Of John Coltrane." It contains Om, uninterrupted. The Om CD fades half way through.

Definitely some hard to digest stuff. Coltrane is Coltrane, but I find some of the chanting in the beginning and several hornplayers improvising at once unappitizing. I highly recommend Stellar Regions and A Love Supreme for the free jazz side of Trane.

The chanting is actually from the Hindu classic, the Bhagavad Gita. A persistent rumor has it that members of the group, including Coltrane, were on acid during the recording, which was in the AM of October 1, 1965 in a private recording studio outside Seattle. The previous night they had recorded a performance at the Penthouse in Seattle, released on Impulse! Live in Seattle. It's much of the same (including the chanting/screaming of "OM") & I suspect some fresh (& still legal) LSD was going around. BTW, if you ever have a chance, check it out on acid or mushrooms. It's for real! This is music from the beyond & is intended to transport. I honestly believe John Coltrane is a heavenly guide.

Few can appreciate the courage necessary for what Mr. Coltrane chose to do. Thank God for those who give the best of themselves,knowing that we might miss It. It is for us, as listeners, to bring the best of ourselves to this divine music. May the blessings be.(James L. Lott)

For the hardy adventurer. Starts out with some poetry ("An offering made to the ghost of the fathers", "I,the oblation; I am Om") backed with thumb piano, flute, andpercussion. As chaotic, in places, as anything I`ve everheard, but also has placid spots (an incredible solo by McCoy Tyner) and plenty of transcendant stuff from Coltrane.John Coltrane, tenor sax; McCoy Tyner, piano; Jimmy Garrison,bass; Donald Garrett, bass; Elvin Jones, drums; Joe Brazil,flute; Pharoah Sanders, tenor sax