Beyond A Love Supreme : John Coltrane and the Legacy of an Album

Recorded by his quartet in a single session in 1964, __A Love Supreme__ is widely considered John Coltrane's magnum opus and one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. In __Beyond__ A Love Supreme, Tony Whyton explores both the musical complexities of __A Love Supreme__ and the album's seminal importance in jazz history. Marking Coltrane's transition from the bebop and hard bop of his earlier recordings to the free jazz style perfected throughout the rest of his career, the album also embodies the deep spirituality that characterized the final years of his life. The titles of the four part suite--"Acknowledgment," "Resolution," "Pursuance," and "Psalm"--along with the poem Coltrane composed for inclusion in the liner notes, which he "recites" instrumentally in "Psalm," reflect the religious aspect of the album, a quality that contributes to its mystique and symbolic importance within the canon of major jazz recordings. But Whyton also shows how __A Love Supreme__ challenges many of the traditional, unreflective assumptions that permeate jazz culture--the binary oppositions between improvisation and composition, black music and white music, live performance and studio recording. He critically examines many of the mythologizing narratives about how the album was conceived and recorded and about what it signifies in terms of the trajectory of Coltrane's personal life. Sifting through the criticism of late Coltrane, Whyton suggests ways of listening to these recordings that go beyond the conventional ideologies of mainstream jazz practice and open the music to a wider range of responses. Filled with fresh insights into one of the most influential recordings in jazz history, __Beyond__ A Love Supreme is an indispensable resource for jazz scholars, jazz musicians, and fans and aficionados at all levels. Recorded By His Quartet In A Single Session In 1964, A Love Supreme Is Widely Considered John Coltrane's Magnum Opus And One Of The Greatest Jazz Albums Of All Time. In Beyond A Love Supreme, Tony Whyton Explores Both The Musical Complexities Of A Love Supreme And The Album's Seminal Importance In Jazz History. Marking Coltrane's Transition From The Bebop And Hard Bop Of His Earlier Recordings To The Free Jazz Style Perfected Throughout The Rest Of His Career, The Album Also Embodies The Deep Spirituality That Characterized The Final Years Of His Life. The Titles Of The Four Part Suite--acknowledgment, Resolution, Pursuance, And Psalm--along With The Poem Coltrane Composed For Inclusion In The Liner Notes, Which He Recites Instrumentally In Psalm, Reflect The Religious Aspect Of The Album, A Quality That Contributes To Its Mystique And Symbolic Importance Within The Canon Of Major Jazz Recordings. But Whyton Also Shows How A Love Supreme Challenges Many Of The Traditional, Unreflective Assumptions That Permeate Jazz Culture--the Binary Oppositions Between Improvisation And Composition, Black Music And White Music, Live Performance And Studio Recording. He Critically Examines Many Of The Mythologizing Narratives About How The Album Was Conceived And Recorded And About What It Signifies In Terms Of The Trajectory Of Coltrane's Personal Life. Sifting Through The Criticism Of Late Coltrane, Whyton Suggests Ways Of Listening To These Recordings That Go Beyond The Conventional Ideologies Of Mainstream Jazz Practice And Open The Music To A Wider Range Of Responses. Filled With Fresh Insights Into One Of The Most Influential Recordings In Jazz History, Beyond A Love Supreme Is An Indispensable Resource For Jazz Scholars, Jazz Musicians, And Fans And Aficionados At All Levels [publisher Description] Elation -- Elegance -- Exaltation -- From Reification To Deification : A Love Supreme And The Canonisation Of Jazz -- Critical Listening : Reviewing The Late Coltrane Recordings -- A Love Supreme Remixed. Tony Whyton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Recorded by his quartet in a single session in 1964, A Love Supreme is widely considered John Coltrane's magnum opus and one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. In Beyond A Love Supreme, Tony Whyton explores both the musical complexities of A Love Supreme and the album's seminal importance in jazz history. Marking Coltrane's transition from the bedop and hard bop of his earlier recordings to the free jazz style perfected throughout the rest of his career, the album also embodies the deep spirituality that characterized the final years of his life. The titles of the four part suite-"Acknowledgment," "Resolution," "Pursuance," and "Psalm"-along with the poem Coltrane composed for inclusion in the liner notes, which he "recites" instrumentally in "Psalm," reflect the religious aspect of the album, a quality that contributes to its mystique and symbolic importance within the canon of major jazz recordings. But Whyton also shows how A Love Supreme challenges many of the traditional, unreflective assumptions that permeate jazz culture-the binary oppositions between improvisation and composition, black music and white music, live performance and studio recording. He critically examines many of the mythologizing narratives about how the album was conceived and recorded and about what it signifies in terms of the trajectory of Coltrane's personal life. Sifting through the criticism of late Coltrane, Whyton suggests ways of listening to these recordings that go beyond the conventional ideologies of mainstream jazz practice and open the music to a wider range of responses. Filled with fresh insights into one of the most influential recordings in jazz history, Beyond A Love Supreme is an indispensable resource for jazz scholars, jazz musicians, and fans and aficionados at all levels. Book jacket John Coltrane's A Love Supreme is widely considered one of the greatest jazz albums of all time. In Beyond A Love Supreme, author Tony Whyton explores both the musical aspects of A Love Supreme, and the album's seminal importance in jazz history, as well as its broader musical and cultural impact