Had he not died at 40 years of age in 1967, John Coltrane would have turned 80 today.
Over the past 40 years, Coltrane and his music has assumed iconic stature. He, perhaps more than any modern musician, has influenced a wide scope of musicians working in an ever widening range of musical genres. Coltrane has been quoted as an influence by jazz musicians, starting in his days as a sideman for Miles Davis – when Coltrane took the language of bebop and stacked dense isheets of soundsi over the chord changes n and continuing through the past 50 years, to todayis iYoung Lionsi. The folk/rock musicians The Byrds, were influenced by, and subsequently paid tribute to him in the song iEight Miles Highi n not through the lyric, which is drug referenced (Coltrane kicked his own drug habit in 1957 and lived a cleaned, spiritually motivated life for the next 20 years) – but in the dense and soaring guitar work. Even today, modern rockers, hip-hoppers and even classical composers and musicians cite him as an influence (there is even a church in San Francisco n St. John Coltrane African Orthodox Church – that considers JC (John Coltrane), their spiritual center for worship).
Google n iJohn Coltrane Birthday,i and you will discover celebrations being held all over the world this Saturday. If you wish to attend Buffalois own, annual tribute to the man, join Pappy Martin and his aptly named, Love Supreme Jazz Orchestra, Saturday (tonight) – 8 pm, at Steel Drums, the Caribbean restaurant located at 1410 Main St. Come early for the food and stay late for the music.
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