Comments for Coltrane, John, The Major Works of John Coltrane

Ascension (rather than the album)is a piece I have been struggling with for 25 years. Now I can cope with it. There is no substitute for its energy (well, maybe, Albert Ayler at his very best, and none at all for its heartbreaking contrast between the free collecctive 'noise'of the structure and the deeply felt solos in between. Never easy, never comfortable, this renains one of the outstanding landmarks of jazz (and ? twentieth century music) and is worth all the effort you will have to make to come to terms with it.

Kulu Se Mama and Selflessness are now available as a separate CD and they are the best work of J.W.C''s career. With 2 bassists, 2 saxophonists and 2 drummers these two albums recorded in October 1965 demonstrate how far this group was above all the competition. There is poetry, driving rhythms, orchestral swirls, and sounds and music like you''ll never hear again. Anyone who takes the time to explore Coltrane should listen to these two albums, they are the best. Thank you.

I suppose, these are proper examples, confirming, that Coltrane`scompositions by this time (1965) have become "not only music".It was life itself. They need no words to describe them. "Once you become aware of this force of unity..."