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The Leonard Lopate Show / December 05, 2007 / John Coltrane and the Evolution of Jazz

John Coltrane and the Evolution of Jazz

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff says that John Coltrane may be the last major figure in the evolution of jazz. Ratliff’s new book about the sax player’s career and legacy is Coltrane: Story of a Sound.

Coltrane is available for purchase at amazon.com

Weigh in: Do you agree with the idea that jazz mostly hit a wall after the 1960s?

Listen to Leonard’s earlier interview with Ashley Kahn on the life of John Coltrane


Comments

  • [1] Andy Polon from Manhattan,NYC December 05, 2007 - 01:24PM

    Both Ben Ratliff and Lenny make some provocative statements, in discussing Coltrane’s legacy and musical journey. Lenny implies that the 1960’s were “defined” in Jazz by Rollins and Coltrane. However there were so many more sax players that we listened to, most based on Parker, and the alto sound. My personal favorite was/is Cannonball Adderly, who was also a Great Band Leader.

    In my youth I was lucky to go to the original Birdland (there was a non-alcohol section for us youths). The bill was Monk opening (with Charlie Rouse) for the Cannonball Adderly Sextet (the famous band: Yusef, Nat, Joe Z, Louis H, etc.). Dig that ! Parker of course created the possibility of `sheets of sounds.’ Not to mention the whole `out to lunch’ in scene in NY based at Studio Rivbea (Sam Rivers place).

    By The Way let us think about the passing of Cecil Payne, a really good NY player, and great guy. Thanks.
  • [2] Andy Polon from Manhattan,NYC December 05, 2007 - 01:27PM

    Lenny implies that the 1960’s were “defined” in Jazz by Rollins and Coltrane. However there were so many more sax players that we listened to, most based on Parker, and the alto sound. My personal favorite was/is Cannonball Adderly, who was also a Great Band Leader.

    In my youth I was lucky to go to the original Birdland (there was a non-alcohol section for us youths). The bill was Monk opening (with Charlie Rouse) for the Cannonball Adderly Sextet (the famous band: Yusef, Nat, Joe Z, Louis H, etc.). Dig that ! Parker of course created the possibility of `sheet of sounds.’ Not to mention the whole` out to lunch’ in scene in NY based at Studio Rivbea (Sam Rivers place).
  • [3] william cardoso from elizabeth,nj December 05, 2007 - 10:13PM

    Pretty much every lick line riff pattern was done 10 times over before 1970,after then it was all remixed rehashed melodic cd 101.9 type stuff except for perhaps mahavishnu orchestra.

    only so many notes in a scale you know.

This thread is closed.


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