A 2001 Jerry Jazz Musician Interview with McCoy Tyner
With yesterday’s passing of pianist McCoy Tyner, the world lost a major creative voice of the past 60 years. So much joy and awe in virtually every groove he carved…
...March 7th, 2020
The A Love Supreme Interviews
It was 50 years ago today — the anniversary of the A Love Supreme recording date
Ask just about any jazz musician, scholar or fan for a list of the greatest jazz albums ever recorded, and John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme — recorded 50 years ago today — resides on it. My own first experience with it was in 1975, on a late evening in a dark, smoke-filled, back alley cottage on North Oakland’s Alcatraz Avenue. My listening was guided by a dear friend who understood that this was not just music — it is what happens when musical genius meets intensity, sensitivity, and spirituality. So many details of that evening remain with me 40 years later, not the least of which was how I sunk into the couch, eyes closed, the worn Impulse album jacket never leaving my grip. I was amazed and I was hooked.
Over the years, I have found that a favorite discussion among jazz fans is their recollections of their first experience with this album. When I began developing content for Jerry Jazz Musician, one of the first ideas I had was to interview people who were either
...December 9th, 2014
“The A Love Supreme Interviews” — Ashley Kahn, author of A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane’s Signature Album
A successful recording generally entertains and communicates passion on an earthly, mortal level. We typically respond to an effective performance by humming the melody, tapping our feet, and sharing it with friends. It might even “stomp the blues,” as the critic Albert Murray suggests.
Few recordings, however, actually challenge a listener to address one’s personal essence.
...September 16th, 2002
Conversations with Gary Giddins: on John Coltrane
Village Voice writer Gary Giddins, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, and who is the country’s eminent jazz critic, joins us in a June 21, 2002 conversation about jazz great John Coltrane.
...June 21st, 2002
The A Love Supreme Interviews: Poet Michael Harper discusses John Coltrane
Brown University professor Michael Harper, the first Poet Laureate of the State of Rhode Island, and author of the National Book Award nominated collection, Dear John, Dear Coltrane, discusses John Coltrane and reads his poems.
...January 24th, 2002
The A Love Supreme Interviews: Saxophonist Joshua Redman on John Coltrane
Joshua Redman entered the jazz world with tons of expectation and perhaps an unreasonable amount of hope. Pat Metheny went so far as to suggest Redman is “the most important new musician in twenty years.”
While Methenys point can be argued, Redman has created some of the most consistently compelling jazz during the last ten years. His music borrows from a storied past and experiments with an elegant future.”
While Methenys point can be argued, Redman has created some of the most consistently compelling jazz during the last ten years. His music borrows from a storied past and experiments with an elegant future.
...December 12th, 2001
Francis Davis on his career as a critic, and on John Coltrane
Philadelphian Francis Davis is the author of several books, including The History of the Blues, Bebop and Nothingness and a forthcoming biography of John Coltrane. A contributing editor of The Atlantic Monthly, he also writes regularly about music for the New York Times, among others.
...December 10th, 2001
Nat Hentoff: on his life as a jazz critic, and memories of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme
Nat Hentoff was born in Boston in 1925 and lived there until he moved to New York City at the age of twenty-eight. For many years he has written a weekly column for the Village Voice. His column for the Washington Times is syndicated nationally, and he writes regularly about music for the Wall Street Journal. His numerous books cover subjects ranging from jazz to civil rights and civil liberties to First Amendment issues.
...November 20th, 2001
In This Issue
The Sunday Poem
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Poetry
Publisher’s Notes
Poetry
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Essay
Interview
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Poetry
Interview
Trading Fours with Douglas Cole
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Review
Short Fiction
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Book Excerpt
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Poetry
Jazz History Quiz #171
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Community
Contributing Writers
Coming Soon
Interview Archive
