Let me tell you that the John Coltrane Festival has been going on for several years now and this my first time at the event. Hell yes I’m excited!!! A festival dedicated to one of the true masters and innovative heroes of jazz music, John Coltrane, has to be one of the most exciting events to attend anywhere. As soon as I walked in the door of the El Rey Theater, I was greeted by a number of my friends and jazz colleagues. There is an ever present buzz in inside the theater. The music filling the reception air is that of McCoy Tyner, long time musical compadre of Trane and musical genius himself as well as that of Alice Coltrane, John’s most talented wife. I know it well because it is one of my absolute most favorite pieces of music. It is from an album done by McCoy called “Extensions” on Blue Note Records and it is one extraordinarily beautiful piece of music. Alice plays the harp and along with McCoy, Gary Bartz, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Elvin Jones, heaven on earth is created.

 

Tonight Alice, Ravi, Oranyan and the rest of the Coltrane family as well as many other special guest dedicate a night of music and entertainment to the spirit, being, evolution and power that was John Coltrane. At $100 per ticket, this venue is sold out. This event benefits the John Coltrane Scholarship Foundation and keeping jazz alive is it’s motto. This has to be the quint essential jazz event of the year and I am honored to attend anything that is a tribute to such a creative inspiration for the world and for jazz music.

 

On the bill for tonight are the winners of the 2004 John Coltrane Scholarship awards, Savion Glover, the Branford Marsalis Quartet, Alice, Ravi and Oranyan Coltrane. My main man Mr. Mark Maxwell, the humble facilitator of the sounds of the creator, from radio station KPFK 90.7 FM was the master of ceremonies for the evening. I knew that we were in good hands and in store for an incredible night of music. Perusing through the El Rey Theater were musicians, actors, straight ahead jazz purist, jazz writers and a number of members of the church of John Coltrane headed by Alice herself. The stage was lit in an array of beautiful colors. Towards the back of the stage, suspended from ceiling was a huge framed portrait of John Coltrane, the focal epicenter of the evening.

 

Mark Maxwell appears from the wings of the stage and greets the audience with kind words and a warm welcome. First up were the John Coltrane 2004 Scholarship winners who performed a few Coltrane pieces as well as some of their own inspired compositions named with John’s music in mind. At the end of their performance, Michele Coltrane, John’s daughter, awarded each of the winners with their medal of accomplishment and spoke on their behalf.  

 

Savion Glover was to appear next. This is a performance that I have seen not too long ago at the Knitting Factory here in Los Angeles called “If Trane Wuz Here”. I also just saw Savion perform up in Monterey at the Monterey Jazz Festival a few weekends ago, a couple of outstanding, non-stop, energetic performances. Unfortunately Savion was not able to make it down to the El Rey Theater but, his counterparts Reg E Gains performed spoken word to the alto Traneisms of Matana Roberts and they carried on in his absence.

 

Branford Marsalis was next to grace the stage. He is certainly one who has listened to, transcribed, been inspired by and cultivated his own sound through the gifts of Coltrane music. Now I hear Trane in the house! Branford and his quartet which features Joey Caldarazzo on piano, Eric Reevis on bass and the “Tainish One” Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums kill from the first note. These cats waste no time gettin’ deep into the cerebral cortex of the music. The audience starts to perk up and as these monsters of the music lay it on thick! As I watched and heard Branford play, I could not help but notice the huge picture of Trane slightly sway back and forth, almost like a nod of approval or blessings from beyond. Ravi was invited to the stage and the two traded phases on “Giant Steps and a number of other Coltrane compositions. Everyone remained on stage and Alice appeared in vibrant orange apparel to a standing ovation by many of the members of Coltrane church as well as jazz lovers alike. She complimented and vamped on piano with the cats in a slow building, deep in the groove piece rich with the colors of
Alice and the textures of “Tain”. Out front, Branford and Ravi were playing and creating the vibe that is Coltrane. Alice’s melodies are enwrapped in the spirit and expressed so soulfully. Everyone left the stage and a synthesizer and an organ were brought out. The instruments were draped in the same brilliant orange fabric that Alice wore as she began to play. Oranyan came on stage and they proceeded to perform a lovely original duet.

 

With everyone back on stage of course the finally was none other than John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme”. Three of the most dauntingly powerful words in all of jazz music. Alice switches to organ for this tune and proceeds to lay down some “Ra chords from the Sun”! An outstanding evening in celebration of the roots of powerful, spiritual, creative musical thought. So much comes to mind from those who knew him as well as those who only knew his music. We are all blessed by his music and his name will live forever, John Coltrane!

 

 

LeRoy Downs