John Coltrane

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JOHN COLTRANE

John Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967), also known as “Trane”, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and was later at the forefront of free jazz. He led at least fifty recording sessions during his career, and appeared as a sideman on many albums by other musicians, including trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk. As his career progressed, Coltrane and his music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension. Coltrane influenced innumerable musicians, and remains one of the most significant saxophonists in music history. He received many posthumous awards and recognitions, including canonization by the African Orthodox Church as Saint John William Coltrane and a special Pulitzer Prize in 2007. (More from Wikipedia)

At any rate, another producer was brought in to help out – an unlikely though inspired choice as it turned out. As described in Wikipedia: “Because of [Albert] Grossman’s hostility to [John] Hammond, Columbia paired Dylan with a young, African-American jazz producer, Tom Wilson. Wilson recalled: ‘I didn’t even particularly like folk music. I’d been recording Sun Ra and [John] Coltrane. . . . I thought folk music was for the dumb guys. [Dylan] played like the dumb guys, but then these words came out. I was flabbergasted.’”

(June 2013/2)

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According to Wikipedia: “John Einarson has noted that the influence of [John Coltrane]’s saxophone playing and, in particular, his song ‘India’ from the Impressions album, can be clearly heard in ‘Eight Miles High’ — most noticeably in [Jim] McGuinn’s recurring twelve-string guitar solo. In addition to this striking guitar motif, the song is also highlighted by Chris Hillman’s driving and hypnotic bass line, [David] Crosby’s chunky rhythm guitar playing, and the band’s ethereal harmonies.”

(July 2015)